SpiceJet flight forced to return after over 100 passengers protest faulty air-conditioning
More than a hundred travelers on a Delhi-Pune SpiceJet service aborted the trip when the cabin became excessively hot and humid due to a malfunctioning air-conditioning system.
SpiceJet flight SG-105, scheduled from Delhi to Pune, experienced a technical fault that left the cabin unbearably hot and humid, prompting more than 100 passengers to refuse to continue. The flight, delayed from its 9.30 pm slot to 11.30 pm, took off without the air-conditioning turning on even after taxiing for about 40-45 minutes. As the heat intensified, passengers—including expectant mothers—felt ill and some were close to collapsing, leading them to demand an immediate abort of take-off.
The aircraft stopped, returned to a parking bay and the doors were opened, allowing passengers to disembark; several women were escorted in wheelchairs due to dizziness. After the incident, SpiceJet arranged an alternate aircraft that left Delhi around 5.30 am the following day and arrived in Pune at approximately 7 am, with the airline apologising for the inconvenience.
Why it matters
The incident highlights airline safety and passenger-rights concerns when technical failures affect comfort and health.
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