IndiGo Unruly Passenger
A woman passenger was declared “unruly” and handed over to security agencies after allegedly damaging airport property worth around ₹49,000 at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport.
The incident reportedly followed the cancellation of an IndiGo flight from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata because of a technical problem detected during the aircraft’s mandatory pre-departure inspection.
IndiGo confirmed that flight 6E 7352, scheduled to operate from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata on August 13, was cancelled after a technical snag was identified before departure.
According to IndiGo, the airline cancelled the flight after a technical issue was detected during the mandatory pre-departure inspection.
The airline said it regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers and took several measures to assist them.
Passengers were provided with regular updates, refreshments and accommodation where required. IndiGo also offered alternative travel arrangements or full refunds, as applicable.
Despite these arrangements, the situation reportedly escalated at the airport.
The alleged incident took place at around 6 pm in the departure lounge of Biju Patnaik International Airport. Officials from the Central Industrial Security Force, IndiGo and the Airports Authority of India were reportedly present when the incident occurred.
The Airports Authority of India alleged that the woman damaged several pieces of airport equipment.
The damaged items reportedly included a monitor, a keyboard and a passport-swiping machine.
The estimated value of the damaged property was around ₹49,000, according to the AAI.
A video purportedly showing the incident has also surfaced on social media.
The footage reportedly shows a heated confrontation at the airport and alleged damage to airport infrastructure following the flight cancellation.
However, the authenticity and complete context of the social media footage have not been independently verified.
The incident has drawn attention because it occurred in an airport departure area, where security procedures are particularly strict.
Airport infrastructure and passenger-processing equipment are critical to the functioning of terminals. Damage to such equipment can potentially disrupt passenger services and security procedures.
Following the incident, IndiGo classified the passenger as “unruly” and handed her over to the relevant security agencies.
The airline said the action was taken in accordance with its standard operating procedures. The incident highlights the challenges airlines can face when flights are cancelled or delayed because of technical issues.
Passengers can experience significant disruption when a flight is cancelled close to departure. However, incidents involving alleged damage to airport property can trigger separate security and legal proceedings.
IndiGo maintained that the flight cancellation was prompted by a technical snag identified during the mandatory inspection. The airline also said it had attempted to minimise the inconvenience by providing updates, refreshments, accommodation, alternative travel options and refunds, depending on the passenger’s preference and eligibility.
The next steps will depend on the security agencies and authorities handling the matter. It also remains to be seen whether any further legal or financial action will be taken over the alleged damage to airport property. The incident comes at a time when airport security and passenger behaviour remain closely monitored across India’s busy aviation network.
For airlines, maintaining safety standards remains a priority even when passengers face last-minute disruptions.
For passengers, the episode is another reminder that frustration over delays or cancellations does not justify damaging public infrastructure or creating a security situation inside an airport.
© Copyright 2026, cloudTV. All Rights Reserved
