Chaos in the Skies: Nearly 6 Lakh Flyers Hit by IndiGo Meltdown
IndiGo chaos as seen at New Delhi Airport (Image TRH)
IndiGo Chaos Exposes Cracks in India’s Aviation Governance
By KUMAR VIKRAM
New Delhi, December 8, 2025 — It was chaos and helplessness for lakhs of Indian air travellers over the past two weeks — families sleeping on airport floors, exhausted students missing exams, and passengers stranded without their luggage or refunds. As India’s biggest airline stumbled, the government’s sluggish response left citizens high and dry.
Between November 21 and December 7, a staggering 9.55 lakh flight tickets were cancelled and refunded by various airlines— refunds amounting to ₹827 crore. In the first week of December alone, over 5.86 lakh cancellations were recorded, worth ₹569.65 crore in refunds, Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu informed Parliament on December 8. These are not just numbers, but stories of family reunions missed, medical appointments disrupted, and working professionals left in panic.
As per the information, Indigo would operate 1,802 flights to 137 destinations, but nearly 500 cancellations continue daily. Out of 9,000 missing bags, only 4,500 have been returned, while thousands more remain stuck— a symbol of the administrative breakdown that has shaken public faith in the system.
Anger is mounting over what many call a “pathetic lack of coordination” between the airline and government agencies. Despite mounting complaints and visuals of chaos flooding social media, passengers say they’ve received little comfort beyond form responses and delayed refunds.
The meltdown has triggered broader questions about India’s aviation preparedness and policy oversight — how one airline’s collapse could bring the country’s air travel network to its knees. For now, lakhs of Indians remain grounded, watching their holiday plans and faith in the system crumble together.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
