Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.
The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.
An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.
The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.
While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.
The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.
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From: Date: 19/01/2021
Mohtesham Muhammed Idrees
Baitul Idrees, Asarkeri, V.T. Road,
Bhatkal 581320, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka.
Mobile No. 7996113626
To
The Inspector General of Police (Western Range)
Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka
Sub: Hindu fanatics impede in Muslim dominated land vacated for National
Highway, anxiety of sectarian carnage from the factional elements.
Respected Sir
It is for your consideration that Hindu miscreants have been active since many years at the behest of a bigoted politician Anant Kumar Hegde to tarnish the pleasant atmosphere of Bhatkal city. We have timely exposed the sarcasm and impishness of politician with this prejudiced character before the higher authorities in the erstwhile. We have also revealed in the past allegations that under the supervision of which biased police officer sophisticated weapons have been transferred in the region to devastate the city of Bhatkal. But each time, with our greatest and unsurpassed strategy, we thwarted the horrendous aspirations of the beast.
Task of Express Highway in the Bhatkal region has been in full swing for the past few years. The people are diligently cooperating in this great project of our government. In this perfect atmosphere of national harmony, the mischievous elements of the region are twisted on making the atmosphere contaminated, instigated by bigoted political leader Ananth Kumar Hegde. District administration and area MLA Sunil Naik is dancing on the tune of Anant Kumar Hegde and also trying to put his evil ideas into practice while all the religious places which is obstructing the Express Highway from Mangalore to Bhatkal have been shifted. The district administration seems unable to take any concrete action against the miscreants. In the past too, the district administration has completely failed in various matters and often had to seek the support of higher authorities to crack down on delinquents. The police force of Karwar district has never been considered worthy by the higher authorities for cracking down on baneful and prejudicial elements in the district.
Bhatkal’s Hindu extremist are trying to rebuild temple obstructing the Express Highway where the temple did not even exist before. Survey no 88 of the Venkatapur gram is divided into 250 plots and maximum plots are owned by Muslims. There are only a few houses of Hindu community at a considerable distance from there which do not match their disputed location. In the present era, Hindus and Muslims are trying to create an atmosphere of love and harmony by forgetting their bigotry events. In such a pleasant environment, the politics of hatred is by no means appropriate. Therefore it is requested to enquire into the matter and take necessary steps against the malefactor to avert any inconvenience circumstances and oblige.
Thanking you Yours truly
Mohtesham Muhammed Idrees.
Copies submitted to:
The Director General & Inspector General of Police, Bengaluru. Karnataka.
The Honourable Governor of Karnataka, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The Honourable Home Minister of Karnataka, Bengaluru. Karnataka.
National highway authority of India, MG Rd, Kodibag, Karwar, Karnataka 581301
The Superintendent of Police, Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Corruption Department, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The Honourable Home Minster of India, New Delhi.
The Honourable President of India, New Delhi.
The Honourable Prime Minister of India, New Delhi.
National Highways Authority of India, G 5&6, Sector-10, Dwarka, Delhi, 110075
The Honourable Chief Justice of India, Supreme court of India, New Delhi.
The Honourable Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Corruption Department, New Delhi.
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