An IndiGo passenger has publicly criticized the airline following a three-hour flight delay, alleging that the pilot's late arrival was the primary cause. The passenger, identified as VJ on X (formerly Twitter), voiced his frustration after his IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Rajkot experienced repeated delays after passengers had already boarded the aircraft.

According to VJ's post, passengers boarded the flight at 6:45 am, anticipating an on-time departure. The scheduled departure time was 7:25 am, but the flight was initially delayed to 7:55 am and subsequently pushed back to 8:40 am due to "operational issues". Passengers were reportedly informed that the captain was delayed after they had been seated for over an hour and twenty minutes. Ultimately, the flight was rescheduled to 10:30 am, resulting in passengers being confined to the aircraft for more than three hours.

VJ expressed his disappointment and questioned the airline's operational management, stating, "This is beyond disappointing. No clarity, no courtesy, no accountability. If a captain can delay an entire flight while passengers are locked inside, what kind of operations management is this?". He characterized the experience as "pure negligence".

IndiGo responded to the passenger's complaint with a detailed statement, apologizing for the inconvenience. The airline attributed the delay to an "unforeseen operational situation" and stated that its teams did their best to support affected customers, including providing refreshments and continuous assistance during the wait. IndiGo also confirmed that a refund had been issued to the passenger.

VJ acknowledged the refund in a follow-up response but reiterated his disappointment with the overall experience. He noted that the delay had disrupted his schedule in Rajkot and left his family "mentally and physically exhausted".

Flight delays due to various reasons, including pilot unavailability, have been a recurring issue for IndiGo. In July 2025, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Pune was delayed by over four hours after the pilot became unwell before takeoff. In another instance, a pilot refused to fly a Pune to Bengaluru flight, citing duty time limitations, which resulted in a five-hour delay. In October 2025, an Indigo flight was delayed by 37 minutes because the first officer was late as he was operating another flight to Mumbai, which reached the airport late.

These incidents have prompted criticism of IndiGo's customer service and operational efficiency. Some passengers have complained about unprofessional behavior from crew members during delays and inadequate compensation for the inconvenience caused. Aviation experts have noted that flight delays can impose significant costs on airlines due to factors such as fuel consumption, passenger facilitation, and potential crew duty time limitations.

In light of these issues, passengers are advised to familiarize themselves with IndiGo's policies regarding flight cancellations, delays, refunds, and baggage compensation. Passengers can file complaints with IndiGo through various channels, including the airline's website, customer care helpline, and social media platforms.