Chaos at Raipur Airport: IndiGo Flight Door Gets Jammed, VIPs Among Hundreds Stranded Inside
Raipur (The Uttam Hindu) : High drama unfolded at Raipur Airport on Monday afternoon when an IndiGo flight arriving from Delhi encountered a technical snag that left hundreds of passengers, including top political leaders, stranded inside the aircraft for nearly 30 minutes. The unexpected chaos occurred around 2:25 PM, just after the flight landed safely and taxied to the terminal. As passengers stood up and prepared to deboard, they were met with an unexpected problem — the main door refused to open.
VIPs Among Stranded Passengers
Adding to the gravity of the situation, several prominent personalities were aboard the flight, including:
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel MLA Chaturi Nand
Raipur Mayor Meenal Chaubey
Sources say the leaders remained calm, but passengers around them grew increasingly anxious as the minutes ticked by inside the sealed aircraft.
Panic, Confusion, and Questions
Eyewitnesses reported growing confusion, restlessness, and some panic among the passengers as air conditioning faltered and no clear communication was provided initially. “There were elderly passengers and children on board. People started getting restless and asking what was going on,” said one traveler. Flight crew attempted to reassure passengers while technical staff rushed to the scene to manually resolve the issue.
What Went Wrong?
According to preliminary reports from airport officials, the issue was due to a technical fault in the door-locking mechanism. Ground staff eventually managed to unlock the door and assist passengers in deboarding safely. IndiGo has yet to issue a detailed statement, but airline officials have confirmed that the matter is under investigation and that passenger safety was never at risk.
DGCA May Step In
Given the seriousness of the incident and the involvement of political dignitaries, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) may seek a detailed explanation from IndiGo regarding the technical malfunction.
Political Reactions Begin
Former CM Bhupesh Baghel, speaking to reporters later, said, “Thankfully, everyone is safe, but such incidents must be taken seriously. There should be accountability when passenger safety is compromised.”
A Wake-Up Call?
This incident has once again raised concerns about technical preparedness and passenger safety protocols in domestic aviation. With the rising number of air travelers, especially VIPs, even minor technical lapses can quickly turn into major PR disasters.