Shocking airport chaos! Furious African woman climbs IndiGo counter in Mumbai as flight meltdown worsens; govt launches probe

In a video now viral on social media, the woman is seen repeatedly asking IndiGo staff for an explanation after her flight was cancelled. When no response came, she climbed onto the counter and shouted at the airline, drawing alarmed reactions from bystanders.

The incident reflects the chaos that has gripped major airports across the country as IndiGo — India’s largest airline — continues to struggle with a severe cockpit crew shortage. On Friday, disruptions escalated sharply, prompting the central government to order a formal inquiry.

According to The Indian Express, nearly 500 flights were cancelled on Friday alone, with all domestic departures from Delhi — IndiGo’s biggest hub — suspended until midnight.

Airports in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad witnessed long queues, confusion and overcrowding as travellers scrambled for alternatives.

Government Says 'Action Inevitable'

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said the government was “fully alert” and in constant consultation with stakeholders to stabilise operations.

“Every necessary measure, including regulatory relaxations permitted by the DGCA, is being taken to restore normalcy and minimise public inconvenience,” he said.

Speaking to NDTV, Naidu made it clear that action against IndiGo was unavoidable.

“It’s not ‘could be’, it will be. There will be action on them… our focus is the passenger,” he said.

Calling the situation “unacceptable,” he said the ministry would ensure such a crisis never repeats. A committee has been constituted to probe the disruptions and identify accountability.

Naidu emphasised that the blame lay squarely with IndiGo, noting that other airlines operating under the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms introduced in November had not reported comparable disruptions.

“We have been monitoring everything closely, discussing with airlines, and giving multiple forums to flag emerging issues,” he said.

IndiGo’s Worst Operational Crisis in Years

IndiGo, long regarded for its punctuality and operational efficiency, has seen its reputation shaken as cancellations and delays mount. The airline acknowledged the crisis earlier, attributing the disruption to a severe shortage of cockpit crew.

The airline said it was working to announce revised schedules and restore normal services at the earliest.