Passengers were stranded at the boarding gate at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday. | Photo credit: By arrangement
Security was visibly tightened at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here on Wednesday after a night of cascading flight delays and cancellations sparked anger, confusion and prolonged disputes between passengers and airline staff.
Central Industrial Security (CISF) personnel were deployed in larger numbers across the boarding gates and waiting areas as tempers rose and crowds swelled. Cyberabad police said they are on high alert and ready to intervene if needed.
Airport officials said shift timings were urgently reworked to ensure more officers were present on the ground, particularly at boarding gates where the chaos was most concentrated. Teams have been redeployed in key areas of the terminal to support airline staff trying to manage the situation.
According to RGIA sources, nearly 10,000 passengers were affected by the disruption as 31 IndiGo flights, including 18 arrivals and 13 departures, were cancelled. On a typical day, the airport handles between 80,000 and 90,000 passengers.
The chain reaction started late on Tuesday night after an IndiGo flight to Bengaluru, scheduled to depart at 11.45 pm, was repeatedly delayed. When boarding was finally completed around 5:00 a.m., passengers were asked to disembark. Many refused and demanded answers. “The passengers had to be taken off the plane but they simply refused to get down. That’s when CISF personnel had to intervene,” said a source with direct knowledge of the incident. The pilot refused to operate the flight, citing “crew legality”, forcing the airline to cancel.
A group of Ayyappa Swamy devotees heading to Sabarimala in Kerala staged a sit-in at the gates. | Photo credit: By arrangement
On Wednesday morning, frustration turned into open protest. A group of Ayyappa Swamy devotees heading to Sabarimala in Kerala staged a sit-in at the gates. “They keep telling us to come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. What should we do? The staff here say they don’t know anything,” said one devotee. Another added, “Our flight was at 8:40am. Now it’s after 10:30am and still no update. Staff say they are not even getting paid. Our darshan and return tickets are fixed.”
CISF personnel were roped in to handle the agitated crowd.
Airport authorities said they were helping to move the crowd, moving passengers from crowded gates to waiting areas to make room for other flights.
Published – 03 Dec 2025 20:49 IST
