IndiGo Flight’s Return: After Extra Passenger Found Standing

An IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Varanasi encountered unexpected situation. When it had to return to the airport shortly after takeoff.

The reason? A passenger, who was supposed to be on standby, was found standing inside the plane by the vigilant crew. Reports indicate that a standby passenger had been seated in place of a confirmed ticket holder due to a mix-up during the boarding process.

The confusion arose when a passenger, who did not have any checked baggage, proceeded directly to the boarding gate. Unaware of this, IndiGo inadvertently allowed a standby passenger to board the aircraft.

Standby passengers, typically passengers with confirmed tickets who may fly a different flight on the same day if seats are available, are a common practice in airlines. Additionally, airline employees may also travel as standby passengers if seats are vacant.

An IndiGo spokesperson clarified that the error was identified before the flight’s departure, leading to the immediate deboarding of the standby passenger. However, rectifying the situation required further steps, including rechecking hand and checked baggage, causing a delay in the flight’s departure.

“The error during the passenger boarding process of 6E 6543 from Mumbai to Varanasi was noticed before the aircraft’s departure, and the standby passenger was promptly deboarded,” stated the airline spokesperson. “IndiGo deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to customers and is committed to enhancing its operational processes to prevent such occurrences in the future.”

Interestingly, the aircraft had already taxied to the runway with the extra passenger onboard. Upon discovery, the aircraft returned to the bay to offload the extra passenger and ensure all necessary protocols were followed before taking off again.