{"id":"f-445134d771-7175c84b-b485-595e-a2be-a3518a2fe1db","title":"‘Why Is He Hiding?’ Chaos Erupts On IndiGo Thailand-bound Flight After Pilot Declines Takeoff | Watch","description":"Chaos erupted aboard IndiGo flight 6E 1085 from Mumbai to Krabi, Thailand, when the pilot refused to fly after exceeding duty hours, stranding passengers for over three hours inside the plane.","timestamp":1768564117,"category":"international","headline":"‘Why Is He Hiding?’ Chaos Erupts On IndiGo Thailand-bound Flight After Pilot Declines Takeoff | Watch","modifiedHeadline":"IndiGo Pilot Halts Flight, Passengers Panic","subCategories":["scid_ec1e4e69"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"7b48871c-c993-4956-b43d-6f46f8e1b036","bundleTitle":"Today In India","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"672","fcSummary":"On an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Krabi, passengers endured a three-hour tarmac delay before the pilot refused to take off due to exceeding duty hours, a warning he had given in advance. Frustration erupted, with passengers demanding to confront the pilot, leading to two being offloaded for unruly behavior. IndiGo cited multiple delays and crew time caps for the incident.","summary":"IndiGo pilot refused to fly, stranding 300+ passengers for hours on Thailand-bound flight after duty hours exceeded.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/news/IN/en/timesnow/f-445134d771-7175c84b-b485-595e-a2be-a3518a2fe1db","sourceUrl":"https://www.timesnownews.com/india/mumbaithailand-indigo-flight-delayed-after-pilot-declines-takeoff-over-duty-hours-article-153458947","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/IJryGVNprgx0.webp","content":"

Fury boiled over on IndiGo flight 6E 1085 bound from Mumbai to Thailand's Krabi when the pilot flat-out refused to take off, citing exceeded duty hours

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after a three-hour tarmac wait. Scheduled for a 4:05 a.m. departure Thursday, the plane sat grounded as passengers stewed, their vacation plans crumbling amid rising tempers. Flightradar24 data shows the delay pushed arrival from 10 a.m. to around 1 p.m. A viral video captured the meltdown: one man screamed at cornered crew, \"Why the f*** is he hiding like a f***ing rat?\" while others hollered about shattered itineraries. Reports revealed that travelers nearly turned on the pilot, who had warned IndiGo in advance but boarded folks anyway. The airline offloaded two for unruly behavior, handing them to security and stretching the ordeal further. Meanwhile, IndiGo's statement pinned initial holdups on late inbound aircraft, air traffic snarls, and crew time caps. Meals rolled out repeatedly to calm nerves. Passengers deplaned in waves of frustration after the exit door took a kick. This comes weeks after IndiGo's massive disruptions, spotlighting fatigue rules in India's crowded skies.

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New:

\n -Pandemonium in @IndiGo6E flight from Mumbai to Krabi

\n -Passengers wanted to beat pilot

\n -Who is said to have refused to operate flight as he was breaching his duty time & had told airline in advance

\n -But flight was boarded & passengers were stuck inside for 3 hours

\n ✈️ pic.twitter.com/vAYWjCBHov
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— Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) January 15, 2026\n

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Passenger Rage Boils Over

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\nVideo footage showed a mob mentality gripping the cabin tight. One passenger cornered a crew member, voice cracking with rage over canceled beach days. Shouts echoed demands to confront the hidden pilot directly.\n
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\nFists clenched as talk turned to beating him up, per social media posts. The pilot had flagged duty breaches ahead, yet boarding proceeded unchecked. Three hours trapped fueled the powder keg. A bold kick rattled the exit door, drawing gasps across rows. Crew stayed composed amid profanities flying thick. IndiGo protocols kicked in swiftly for safety.\n
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Airline Responds to Fallout

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\nIndiGo spokesperson outlined a perfect storm of delays in their release. Late aircraft from prior routes threw off the rhythm first. Air traffic jams piled on, then duty clocks hit red. Two passengers crossed lines, earning unruly tags from staff. Security took them away, buying time but costing more hours. Meals and water eased some stomachs, not tempers.\n
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\nFlightradar24 tracked the belated touchdown in Krabi past noon. IndiGo stressed commitment to safe flights above all else. Regrets flowed for the mess left behind.\n
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\nLast month's nationwide chaos lingers in customer minds still. Pilot fatigue rules aim to prevent mid-air risks. Unions back the stand, calling it non-negotiable.\n
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‘Why Is He Hiding?’ Chaos Erupts On IndiGo Thailand-bound Flight After Pilot Declines Takeoff | Watch

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