An IndiGo flight bound from Mumbai to Varanasi encountered a peculiar situation when it had to return to the airport shortly after taxiing for takeoff.
Here’s what happened:
Overbooked Passenger Spotted
As the aircraft, designated as flight 6E 6543, was taxiing on the runway, the crew noticed an overbooked passenger standing at the rear of the plane.
This prompted them to alert the pilot, resulting in the aircraft’s return to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai.
Resolution and Departure Delay
Once back at the airport, the crew swiftly addressed the situation.
The overbooked passenger was offloaded, and as a precautionary measure, the cabin baggage of all passengers was checked.
Statement from IndiGo
An IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged the error, clarifying that a standby passenger was mistakenly assigned a confirmed passenger’s seat. The airline assured measures to enhance operational processes and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.
However, this process caused a delay of approximately an hour before the flight could resume its journey to Varanasi.
Overbooking Practices and Passenger Rights
Overbooking is a common practice among airlines to ensure minimal empty seats on flights.
However, it can lead to incidents like the one experienced by IndiGo. Here’s a glimpse into passenger rights and airline regulations:
Regulatory Measures
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) oversees aviation regulations in India.
Airlines face penalties for denying boarding to passengers, even those with valid tickets.
Compensation Guidelines
As per regulations introduced in 2016, airlines are not obligated to compensate passengers if an alternative flight is arranged within an hour of the scheduled departure.
However, if an alternative flight is provided within 24 hours of denial of boarding, the airline must compensate passengers with 200% of the booked one-way basic fare, along with additional charges, capped at Rs 10,000.
