IndiGo flight delayed over three jours as Pilot grieves grandmother's death

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

IndiGo's Patna to Pune flight (6E-126) faced a substantial delay on Wednesday, leaving 162 passengers grounded for over three hours. The catalyst behind this delay unfolded as the first officer, steering the aircraft through foggy conditions at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna, received distressing news of his grandmother's sudden demise.

Amid preparations for takeoff, the first officer, grappling with the emotional upheaval, made the poignant decision to abort the flight.

Despite the aircraft having left the parking bay, the pilot, convinced of his inability to ensure a focused and safe journey for the passengers, returned the plane to its original position. This unprecedented act of prioritizing personal grief over operational schedules was reported by a reliable source at the airport.

An insider from the airline revealed, «The first officer received information about the sudden demise of his grandmother.

In response, alternate crew arrangements were swiftly made for the flight, and passengers were attended to with refreshments.» This empathetic response highlights a seldom-seen humane facet within the aviation industry, acknowledging the emotional well-being of its crew members.

Despite the unforeseen delay, the airline effectively managed the situation by arranging a replacement crew for the affected flight, ensuring the comfort of passengers during the waiting period. Originally scheduled to depart at 1.25 pm, the aircraft finally took off at 4.41 pm, after the necessary adjustments were made to the flight operations.

As of the report's filing at 11.30 pm on Wednesday, IndiGo had not issued any formal statement regarding the incident.