Mumbai: Over 100 passengers bound for Istanbul on IndiGo flight 6E17 were left stranded at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport following a 16-hour delay caused by technical issues.

The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 6:55 a.m., faced multiple delays before IndiGo eventually arranged an alternative aircraft for departure at 11:00 p.m. In a statement, the airline expressed regret for the inconvenience:

"We regret that flight 6E17, originally planned to operate from Mumbai to Istanbul, experienced a delay due to technical problems. Despite our efforts to resolve the issue, we had to cancel the original flight. An alternate aircraft has been arranged, now scheduled to depart at 2300 hrs. Ensuring our customers’ safety and comfort remains our top priority."

Sources revealed that the flight was delayed at least three times, with passengers being asked to board and deboard multiple times before receiving a final departure update. Many of the stranded passengers, including students, protested at the airport, demanding refunds or alternative flight arrangements.

The frustration spilled over to social media, where passengers shared their grievances.

"My brother has been stuck at Mumbai airport for over 12 hours due to unprofessional behavior by @IndiGo6E staff," wrote X user Sonam Saigal. "He was made to board and deboard twice, and the staff is rude, refusing to address questions about refunds or rescheduling."

Another passenger, Sachin Chintalwad, expressed concern over missing his connecting flight from Istanbul to Washington, operated by IndiGo. "Dear Indigo, this is not fair. The delay means I will miss my connecting flight. Please suggest a solution," he wrote.

Passengers also criticized the lack of clear communication from IndiGo staff. Biresh Kumar Singh, another traveler, described the ordeal: "Flight 6E17 scheduled for 6:55 a.m. is yet to take off. Passengers are being shuffled between the aerobridge and the waiting area, and staff remain clueless about the situation. This service is unacceptable."

IndiGo has apologized for the disruptions, but passengers continue to voice their dissatisfaction over the handling of the situation.