IndiGo Passengers Endure 4-Hour Runway Ordeal

An IndiGo flight from Chennai to Singapore experienced a significant four-hour delay on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, keeping over 200 passengers confined to the aircraft on the tarmac. The disruption started with a technical issue concerning the aircraft's air conditioning system, particularly problematic due to Chennai's warm morning temperatures. Engineers were called to address the problem before departure.

Following the resolution of the air conditioning issue, the flight's cockpit crew informed the airline that proceeding with the journey would violate Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) regulations. This necessitated arranging a new crew, which caused further delays. Additionally, visa formalities for the replacement crew had to be completed for the international flight to Singapore.

Passengers remained inside the aircraft to avoid procedural complications with immigration clearances, as deboarding and reboarding would have added more time. IndiGo confirmed the incident, citing a minor technical snag and the subsequent crew change due to FDTL norms as reasons for the delay. The airline apologized for the inconvenience, stating that passenger and crew safety is their top priority.