Sonu Sood Urges Passengers to Remain Calm Amid IndiGo Flight Crisis

Actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood has appealed to air travellers to maintain patience and treat ground staff with respect as IndiGo Airlines continues to grapple with a major operational crisis that has caused widespread delays and cancellations.

In a video shared on his X handle on Saturday, Sood highlighted the frustration many passengers— including his own family— have faced, with some flights delayed for more than four hours. Yet, he urged travellers to “be responsible citizens” and avoid directing their anger at on-ground employees who are “only doing their jobs.”

IndiGo’s ongoing crisis stems from its failure to effectively transition to the new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) rules, which came into effect in November. The revised regulations mandate stricter rest periods and duty hours for pilots. The airline’s inadequate planning under the updated framework has reportedly resulted in acute pilot shortages, forcing mass flight cancellations and prolonged delays across several airports.

Earlier this week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took note of the disruptions and pulled up the airline over operational lapses that triggered chaos for thousands of passengers.

Sood, known for his humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, reminded passengers that while their frustration is understandable, ground staff “should not bear the brunt” of systemic issues. His message comes as videos from airports show long queues, irate passengers, and chaotic scenes emerging from the disruption.

As IndiGo works to stabilise its schedules, passengers have been advised to stay updated through official airline channels and arrive early at airports to mitigate further inconvenience.