Vadodara: What should have been a routine evening flight from Vadodara to Delhi turned into a distressing ordeal for passengers on IndiGo flight 6E657 on Saturday night.
While the aircraft was still parked at Vadodara Airport, a sudden technical failure in the Ground Power Unit (GPU) caused a complete power outage. Both the air-conditioning and cabin lights went off, plunging the aircraft into darkness and turning the cabin into a suffocating oven.
For nearly 25 to 45 minutes, passengers remained trapped inside the aircraft with the doors closed. With no ventilation and extreme heat building up rapidly, many passengers were seen desperately fanning themselves using files, folders, and newspapers they were carrying. Videos recorded by passengers inside the cabin show the chaotic and uncomfortable scene.
According to sources, the Ground Power Unit, which supplies electricity to the aircraft when its engines are switched off, suddenly failed. This affected critical systems including cabin lighting and air-conditioning. Passengers reportedly grew restless and anxious due to the lack of fresh air and poor communication from the crew during the episode.
Airport technicians rushed to the spot and worked swiftly to restore power. Once the GPU was fixed and electricity was restored, the AC and lights came back on, bringing some relief to the passengers. The flight eventually departed for Delhi after the technical issue was resolved.
IndiGo has acknowledged the inconvenience caused to passengers and stated that it is looking into the matter.
Incident Highlights:
- Flight: IndiGo 6E657 (Vadodara → Delhi)
- Location: Vadodara Airport (on ground)
- Duration: 25–45 minutes of power/AC failure
- Issue: Ground Power Unit (GPU) failure
- Passenger Reaction: Fanning with files/folders in darkness due to extreme heat
This incident has once again raised questions about ground handling efficiency and passenger comfort during technical delays at smaller airports.