Operations at Terminal 1 of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport were disrupted late on Tuesday after several SpiceJet flights to key domestic destinations including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru were delayed or cancelled, officials said.
Passengers reported long waits, confusion and protests inside the terminal as timetables slipped.
According to sources, the disruption began when SpiceJet flight SG 631, scheduled to depart for Delhi, was delayed by nearly four hours. After the passengers were finally boarded, the flight was suddenly canceled without a clear explanation and the passengers were forced to disembark again. Similar disruptions were reported on other routes, including flights to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, leaving hundreds of people stranded at the terminal.
Videos show crowded gates, angry passengers and tense scenes
Videos circulating on social media showed crowded boarding gates, visibly frustrated passengers confronting airline staff and groups raising slogans demanding answers and refunds.
In several clips, passengers can be seen gathered at airline counters seeking clarity on rebooking and compensation, while airport announcements reportedly remained limited and inconsistent. Footage also captured tense moments as waiting areas grew increasingly crowded amid cascading delays.
The outages in Mumbai add to the growing list of operational problems SpiceJet has faced in recent weeks.
Reports from Ahmedabad earlier this month also highlighted widespread delays and cancellations, with passengers protesting long waiting hours and last-minute schedule changes at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Similarly, Bengaluru and other major airports have witnessed repeated SpiceJet delays attributed to technical and aircraft maintenance issues, further straining passenger confidence. In one recent case, a Bengaluru-Kolkata flight remained grounded for several hours, with passengers reporting poor communication and lack of assistance from airline officials.
While SpiceJet has not issued an official statement specifically addressing the incident at Mumbai’s Terminal 1, its policies generally state that delays and cancellations may occur due to operational restrictions, technical issues or airspace restrictions, in an effort to minimize passenger inconvenience.
Meanwhile, affected passengers continue to demand clarity, compensation and better coordination from the airline as Mumbai airport gradually returns to normal operations after the overnight disturbances.
