NEW DELHI – Hundreds of passengers waiting for two SpiceJet flights to Dubai were left stranded at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for over 24 hours, leading to widespread protests and chaotic scenes on Monday and Tuesday, September 14-15, 2026.
Flights SG 5111 and SG 5105, originally scheduled to depart on Monday, were repeatedly rescheduled, with neither having taken off by the time of reporting on Tuesday afternoon. Passengers, estimated to be around 200, staged sit-in protests at various locations within Terminal 3, expressing their anger and exhaustion.
Passenger Outcry and Demands
The prolonged delays triggered strong reactions from the stranded travelers. Videos circulated online showed passengers chanting slogans like 'SpiceJet chor hai' (SpiceJet is a thief) and 'SpiceJet haye haye' (Down with SpiceJet). Many demanded immediate updates, food, and accommodation, citing the significant financial and personal inconvenience caused.
Sources indicated that for a considerable period, no SpiceJet staff were present to address the passengers' concerns. Airport officials eventually intervened, providing water and food, and arranging a resting area for those affected. One passenger, Nikita, tweeted about the lack of assistance, stating, "Our Delhi–Dubai SpiceJet was scheduled at 10:20 PM, but kept getting delayed. After reaching the airport, there was no proper ground staff to assist us."
“You take the exit or refund. Nobody will go by flight. Please don't record video here. It is not allowed. You don't have the right,” an airport official was heard saying during a heated exchange with a passenger attempting to record the situation, further escalating tensions.
SpiceJet's Response and Operational Challenges
In a statement, SpiceJet attributed the extensive delays to "operational reasons following the grounding of an aircraft." The airline apologized for the inconvenience, stating it "deeply regretted the disruption caused to the passengers."
A spokesperson confirmed that alternate flights were being arranged to accommodate the affected passengers, and the airline was "making every effort to minimise the inconvenience caused." This incident comes amidst increased scrutiny of SpiceJet's financial health and operations by the Civil Aviation Ministry and regulator DGCA, as reported last week by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu.
As of reporting, the two Delhi-Dubai flights remained grounded, and passengers continued their wait for clarity on their departure.