Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): With India’s busiest airports reeling from days of severe IndiGo flight delays and cancellations, actor Sonu Sood has stepped in with a public plea urging travellers to stop venting their anger on airline ground staff who, he says, “are just as powerless” in the unfolding situation.
Chaotic scenes have gripped terminals across the country, where stranded passengers—some waiting for hours without clear updates—have erupted in confrontations now widely circulating on social media. Several clips show irate flyers demanding explanations from airline employees struggling to manage swelling crowds.
‘They Don’t Have the Answers Either’: Sood’s Message to Flyers
Sood, known for his calm and empathetic interventions during past crises, posted a video on X on Saturday speaking directly to passengers frustrated by the cascading delays.
He began by acknowledging the scale of the problem, sharing that even his own family had faced a wait of nearly five hours before their flight departed. “People have missed weddings, meetings, important commitments,” he said. “The inconvenience is real.”
What troubled him most, he added, was witnessing how ground staff were becoming the target of public anger.
“In many of the videos, I saw people shouting at staff members,” Sood said. “But these are people who themselves don’t know what’s happening with the next flight. They only communicate what they’re told. They are helpless too.”
A Call for Patience and Respect
Sood asked passengers to remember that frontline employees are the least involved in flight planning or scheduling. “They don’t decide cancellations. They don’t delay flights. And they don’t have real-time control over operations,” he reminded viewers.
Urging travellers to hold back their frustration, he added: “Please remain calm. It is important we treat them with dignity, especially in moments like these.”
Regulator Launches Inquiry Into IndiGo Crisis
Even as public pressure mounts, the aviation regulator has begun digging into what triggered the breakdown.
On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced the creation of a four-member committee tasked with analysing the chain of events that led to the widespread disruptions. The panel is expected to review scheduling practices, crew availability, and communication lapses that may have contributed to the chaos.
The review comes amid days of erratic operations that have left thousands stranded, forcing many to scramble for alternate flights or cancel travel plans altogether.
Thousands Still Waiting for Clarity
While some flights have slowly begun returning to schedule, uncertainty remains high, and airports continue to handle spillover crowds. Travellers are now waiting for IndiGo and aviation authorities to offer clearer timelines and a roadmap to restoring stable operations.
For now, Sood’s message serves as a reminder that, in a crisis marked by confusion and short tempers, frontline workers are often bearing the brunt of public outrage—despite having little control over the problem itself.
