Delhi-Kathmandu SpiceJet flight delayed: Passengers exit sweltering cabin; airline blames glitch

NEW DELHI: More than 100 passengers on a Kathmandu-bound SpiceJet flight faced major inconvenience at Delhi airport on Thursday morning after the aircraft developed a technical snag, forcing them to deplane.According to ANI’s video journalist, who was onboard, SpiceJet flight SG41 was scheduled to depart at 8:10 am but was delayed to 9:30 am. The aircraft briefly taxied on the runway without any announcement from the crew, while passengers endured non-functional air conditioning inside the cabin for over an hour.The plane was eventually brought back to the parking bay, where the crew cited a “technical issue” as the cause of the delay.Passengers were then asked to deboard and made to wait in a bus near the parking area.Confirming the incident, the airline said the aircraft had developed a technical snag, leading to the disruption, and assured that efforts were underway to resolve the problem.The incident came just a day after a similar episode involving Air India. On Wednesday night, more than 200 passengers on Air India flight AI2380 to Singapore were forced to deplane at Delhi airport after enduring nearly two hours inside an aircraft with malfunctioning air conditioning and electrical systems.The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, scheduled to depart around 11 pm, developed technical issues before take-off, according to PTI. With the cooling system failing, passengers were left visibly distressed, with many resorting to newspapers and magazines to fan themselves.After nearly two hours of waiting, all passengers were evacuated to the terminal building. However, the airline crew did not provide a clear explanation for the deplaning decision.Air India has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident, which left hundreds of travelers stranded at Delhi airport. Videos circulating on social media showed frustrated passengers using printed materials as makeshift fans to cope with the rising cabin temperature.(With inputs from agency)