Viral Post Claims SpiceJet Passengers Endured Hour-Long Wait Inside Plane Without AC, Airline Responds

SpiceJet passengers were made to wait inside the aircraft without AC for almost an hour amid the severe heatwave conditions.

SpiceJet passengers seen sweating profusely while they were made to wait inside the aircraft for over an hour amid heatwave. ( Image Source :X/@ANI )

Amid the ongoing severe heatwave conditions, passengers aboard SpiceJet flght SG 486, travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga, Bihar, were made to wait inside the aircraft for more than an hour without air conditioning (AC). This caused inconvenience to the passengers, with several of them feeling unwell due to the scorching heat.

In the video of the incident that has gone viral on social media, the passengers can be see sweating profusely inside the aircraft. Some of the passengers can be seen using books and magazines as fans to get some respite from the heat and suffocation.

#WATCH | SpiceJet passengers travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga (SG 476) had to wait inside an aircraft without air conditioning (AC) for over an hour amid the ongoing heatwave, with several feeling unwell. pic.twitter.com/cIj2Uu1SQT

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2024

'Temperature Inside Flight Was 40 Degrees'

According to a passenger, the air conditioner of the flight was not switched on after the check-in. It was only after an hour that the AC was turned on after the aircraft took off.

A SpiceJet passenger named Rohan Kumar, who suffered due to the incident recounted: "I was travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga (SG 476) from SpiceJet. At the Delhi airport after the check-in, they did not switch on the air-conditioning (AC) for an hour. The temperature inside (flight) was 40 degrees. The passengers were suffering. The air-conditioner (AC) was switched on when the flight took off..."

#WATCH | A SpiceJet passenger, Rohan Kumar says, "I was travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga (SG 476) from SpiceJet. At the Delhi airport after the check-in, they did not switch on the air-conditioning (AC) for an hour. The temperature inside (flight) was 40 degrees. The passengers… https://t.co/Ez797ogxcX pic.twitter.com/PMs7OVPk6S

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2024

'AC Experienced Slight Inefficiency Due To Extreme Weather Conditions'

Following the incident, SpiceJet responded saying that the air conditioning was working normally throughout the flight and only experienced slight inefficiency due to extreme weather conditions.

"SpiceJet flight SG 476 from Delhi to Darbhanga on June 19, scheduled to depart at 11 am, departed on time without any delays. The air conditioning was working normally throughout the flight, which was verified and cross-checked upon arrival in Darbhanga. The same aircraft operated the return flight to Delhi, and there were no issues with the air conditioning on the return flight either," the airlines responded.

"During boarding in Delhi, the air conditioning initially experienced slight inefficiency due to extreme weather conditions and both doors of the aircraft being open, as boarding was not via the aerobridge. The doors were promptly closed after boarding completion, and the cooling functioned normally thereafter," the spokesperson said.