CHANDIGARH, June 23 — Over 170 passengers were left stranded and frustrated on Sunday morning after a technical issue forced IndiGo to cancel its Chandigarh-Lucknow flight moments before takeoff.
Flight 6E 146, scheduled to depart at 7:10 am from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, was preparing for takeoff when the pilot detected a technical fault during taxiing. The aircraft returned to the parking bay, and all 177 passengers were deboarded as a safety precaution.
The airline later cancelled the flight, citing “operational reasons,” and offered full refunds or alternative travel arrangements to the affected passengers. Many travelers, however, voiced frustration over the abrupt cancellation and lack of timely communication.
“It was disappointing that we were informed so late, after boarding had already been completed,” said Rachna Malik, a passenger booked on the flight. “The entire morning was wasted, and many of us had urgent commitments in Lucknow.”
IndiGo arranged connecting flights for some passengers via Delhi, but the delays disrupted numerous travel schedules.
While the airline did not disclose specific details of the technical issue, airport officials confirmed there was no safety risk to passengers during the incident.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and are working to ensure alternate arrangements at the earliest,” IndiGo said in a brief statement.
The incident comes amid a wider wave of passenger discontent over sudden cancellations and delays during peak travel months.
