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SpiceJet Passengers Slam Food Quality, Make Ground Staff Taste It; Airline Issues Response

June 16, 2025, 6:21 pm

A video of upset flyers at Pune airport making a SpiceJet ground staff consume an in-flight meal has gone viral on social media recently, with mixed responses. The video, claimed to have been taken after the flight was delayed by a considerable amount of time, has passengers upset about the food served.

The video uploaded by the handle “Woke Eminent” on platform X illustrates a group of upset passengers aggressively confronting a SpiceJet staffer. The passengers can be heard grumbling about the quality of food offered after a flight delay of SG-8124, which was allegedly delayed for more than seven hours. The audience insists that the airline staff try the same food, and in the video, the employee is seen doing so and eating it in front of them.

Despite the incident taking place two weeks ago, the video only came into circulation recently, attracting over five lakh views and fomenting online discourse.

SpiceJet Releases Clarification

Following the viral video, SpiceJet released a statement to HT.com, strongly refuting the claims made by the passengers.

We firmly reject the allegations made in relation to the video in question, which is more than two weeks old. The food served to passengers was fresh and of good quality. It was sourced from a licensed vendor who supplies packaged food not only to SpiceJet, but also to a number of other airlines operating from the airport, as well as to customers within the terminal,” said a SpiceJet spokesperson.

The airline supported its ground staff too, condemning the crowd’s action, Our ground staff performs their duties diligently and to the best of their abilities. The incident on video is unfortunate to the core, and the conduct displayed towards our staff is unacceptable and reprehensible. As is apparent through the video, the SpiceJet ground staff was remain polite, respectful, and professional notwithstanding being at the receiving end of verbal abuse as well as unjustified physical behavior. We will not only defend our staff but also any sort of misbehavior or aggression against them.

Social Media Reactions

Netizens were not slow to comment. While some empathised with the frustration of the commuters, there were many who were severely critical of their rude behavior and praised the composure of the staff member.

“Staff is not at fault for the delay, so let’s give them respect,” posted one user.
“Salute to this staff, he was so humble,” posted another.

“What is this kind of violent mob behavior? Are you proposing harassing this chap from the airline like that as acceptable behavior?” asked a third user.

“I salute that staff – too much patience. God bless him with the best job; he deserves it,” said another.
“Ban these people… don’t harass the manager, please,” said one further comment on behalf of the SpiceJet staff.

Southwest Airlines Flight Evacuated After Phone Catches Fire, Passengers Criticized for Grabbing Luggage

November 18, 2024, 4:10 pm

A terrifying incident occurred at Denver International Airport when 108 passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight were forced to evacuate after a smartphone battery caught fire, igniting a seat. The Boeing 737-700 was about to take off when the fire started, triggering panic among the passengers.

A video circulating on social media showed the intense moments inside the plane, with cabin crew shouting, “Get out, get out now,” as passengers rushed to evacuate. Many were seen grabbing their luggage in their panic.

Thanks to quick action by the crew, the fire was extinguished, and no major injuries occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Southwest Airlines confirmed that passengers seated at the rear of the plane exited via emergency slides, while those in the front used the jet bridge. One passenger sustained minor injuries, and the person whose phone caught fire was treated for burns. The flight continued after a three-hour delay, landing safely at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston.

In a separate incident, a Korean Air flight from Bangkok to Seoul had to manage an unruly passenger who tried to open the emergency exit mid-flight. The man, seated near the emergency exit, began acting erratically an hour into the flight. Despite his efforts to open the hatch, the crew intervened and restrained him. The flight continued safely to Seoul, where the man was handed over to authorities for further investigation. Korean Air confirmed that the situation was handled according to security protocols.

Farewell Vistara: Emotional Tributes Pour In as Airline Takes Its Final Flight

November 11, 2024, 12:15 pm

In a major shift for Indian aviation, Vistara will operate its last flight under its own brand on Monday, November 11. Starting November 12, Vistara’s operations will integrate with Air India, effectively retiring the Vistara brand and leading to a more consolidated market with fewer full-service carriers.

This merger, which has stirred emotional responses from loyal customers on social media, will reduce the number of full-service airlines in India from five to one over the span of 17 years. Through this merger, Singapore Airlines will acquire a 25.1% stake in Air India, further strengthening the international partnership in India’s aviation landscape.

Grateful to have experienced @airvistara on its final day of operations—a brand that truly delivered on its promise of ‘a new feeling’ in travel.
Vistara is one of the few brands which overlapped brand promise with brand delivery so seamlessly. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/YFO5JAm19t

— Anubhav Goyal (@anubhavgo) November 10, 2024

Farewell to Vistara ❤️‍?

India’s finest domestic airline, as it takes its final flight today

Since 2015, Vistara has set new standards for service and comfort in Indian?? skies

Thank you, Vistara, for making every journey memorable! ?

Let us fly high to new horizons with Air… pic.twitter.com/MsenFCAK0y

— Parth Suba (@parthsuba77) November 10, 2024

My last Vistara flight before the AI-Vistara merger comes into effect on 12th November.

UK-848, 6th November 2024.

You’ll be missed @airvistara pic.twitter.com/ifhD4S55Gr

— Chetan Bhutani (@BhutaniChetan) November 6, 2024

One of my all time favorite #Vistara pics –

I took it couple of years ago, when the gate-assignment Gods at Delhi T3 must have been in a great mood!

One final #VistaraLove – Thank you for the memories. ?#AvGeek pic.twitter.com/ZF5N0WkdNJ

— AJ (@OntheRoadAJ) November 10, 2024

For over 17 years, India’s skies hosted a variety of full-service airlines, beginning with the merger of Indian Airlines and Air India in 2007. However, several of these carriers gradually exited the market. Kingfisher Airlines, for example, ceased operations in 2012, while Air Sahara, acquired by Jet Airways and rebranded as JetLite, ended with Jet Airways’ closure in 2019.

Vistara’s consolidation with Air India symbolizes the end of an era, reducing the diversity of full-service carriers and altering the competitive landscape in Indian aviation.

Bomb Threats Target Over 25 Flights, Prompting Heightened Security Measures

October 25, 2024, 7:55 pm

More than 25 domestic and international flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats on Friday, as the wave of hoax threats targeting the aviation sector continues.

Flights operated by IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet, and Air India were among those affected. IndiGo alone reported threats against flights including 6E 87 (Kozhikode to Dammam), 6E 2099 (Udaipur to Delhi), 6E 11 (Delhi to Istanbul), 6E 58 (Jeddah to Mumbai), 6E 17 (Mumbai to Istanbul), 6E 108 (Hyderabad to Chandigarh), and 6E 133 (Pune to Jodhpur).

“Flight 6E 2099, scheduled from Udaipur to Delhi, was relocated to the isolation bay before take-off as per security guidelines. All passengers were safely disembarked,” said an IndiGo spokesperson.

Threat Surge Overwhelms Airlines

In the past 12 days, Indian carriers have reported over 275 bomb threats, primarily originating from social media. Hoaxes have led to delays, diversions, and extensive searches, impacting operational efficiency and passenger schedules.

On Thursday, the Centre instructed social media platforms, including Meta and X, to cooperate in sharing data on individuals behind hoax threats. A source from a recent IT Ministry meeting stated, “The Ministry asked social media companies to promptly provide information related to these threats.”

Recent Security Incidents

Escalating threats have also resulted in serious incidents. Last week, Royal Air Force fighter jets intercepted an Air India flight from Mumbai to London after a bomb threat. Similarly, Singapore Armed Forces scrambled fighter jets to escort an Air India Express flight from Madurai, and the Nepalese Army deployed a bomb squad to Kathmandu airport following a threat to a Vistara flight from Delhi.

Mid-Air Tribute: Air India, AI Express, Vistara Honor Ratan Tata With In-Flight Announcements

October 10, 2024, 5:56 pm

Air India, Air India Express, and Vistara are making special in-flight announcements to honor the late Ratan Tata, the Tata Group patriarch, who passed away recently. Other airlines, such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, have also paid tribute to the visionary leader. The Tata Group is currently consolidating its airline operations, with Vistara set to merge into Air India next month.

Watch:

In-flight announcements being made across Tata Group airlines in honour of Mr Ratan Tata. Here is one such aboard Air India Express. pic.twitter.com/CQkOc0bG9h

— Jagriti Chandra (@jagritichandra) October 10, 2024

On Thursday, officials confirmed that the three Tata-owned airlines would be commemorating Ratan Tata during their flights throughout the day. Tata, who was 86 and also held the title of Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus, passed away on Wednesday night at a Mumbai hospital.

This announcement coincides with the group’s ongoing efforts to unify its airline businesses. The integration of Air India Express and AIX Connect was completed on October 1, while Vistara’s merger with Air India is scheduled for November 12.

Vistara is a collaborative venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.

Air India’s CEO and MD, Campbell Wilson, expressed gratitude to employees, saying, “Air Indians especially acknowledge and are grateful for Tata’s immense contribution to Indian aviation and to the Tata airlines.”

Viral Photo: UK Journalist Crawls On Plane After Airline Denies Wheelchair

October 1, 2024, 2:06 pm

A British journalist, Frank Gardner, who lost his legs while reporting in the Middle East, recently faced a distressing situation on a LOT Polish Airlines flight. During his return journey from Warsaw, Gardner was compelled to crawl across the cabin floor due to the airline’s absence of onboard wheelchair facilities.

A Shocking Experience for a Seasoned Reporter

Gardner, a respected BBC correspondent, shared his experience on social media, describing it as “shocking.” He explained that when he needed to use the restroom during the flight, he was informed by the crew that the airline does not provide wheelchairs on board. This left him with no choice but to crawl to the toilet.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE POST:

Wow. It’s 2024 and I’ve just had to crawl along the floor of this LOT Polish airline to get to the toilet during a flight back from Warsaw as “we don’t have onboard wheelchairs. It’s airline policy”. If you’re disabled and you can’t walk this is just discriminatory. pic.twitter.com/aFuxo89DR5

— Frank Gardner (@FrankRGardner) September 30, 2024

In his post on X, Gardner expressed his frustration: “Wow. It’s 2024 and I’ve just had to crawl along the floor of this LOT Polish airline to get to the toilet during a flight back from Warsaw as ‘we don’t have onboard wheelchairs. It’s airline policy’. If you’re disabled and you can’t walk this is just discriminatory.”

Acknowledging the Crew’s Efforts

Despite his frustration, Gardner commended the cabin crew for their helpfulness and apologetic nature, clarifying that the issue lay with the airline’s policy. “In fairness to the cabin crew, they were as helpful and apologetic as they could be. Not their fault; it’s the airline. Won’t be flying LOT again until they join the 21st century,” he added.

Public Outcry and Calls for Change

Gardner’s social media post triggered widespread empathy and disbelief from users. Many expressed their outrage over the lack of accessible facilities on airlines. One user remarked, “Shocking – so sorry to hear this. Isn’t it time airlines are obliged to provide onboard wheelchairs to hold licenses to fly into international airports?”

Another suggested a practical solution, writing, “Would it be so hard to make a wheelchair that runs along the same gunnels that the trolleys do, and can lock in place if necessary so that wheelchair users can get to and from their seats? Pretty sure they would only need one per aircraft.”

A Journalist’s Resilient Journey

Gardner’s career has led him to report from some of the world’s most dangerous regions. In 2004, while covering a story in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he was shot by Al-Qaeda gunmen, which resulted in partial paralysis.

As of now, LOT Polish Airlines has not issued an official statement regarding this incident, but the public is hopeful that the airline will address the pressing issue of accessibility for all passengers.

Airline advisory not to use Black, Navy, or Grey Suitcases: Know why

September 12, 2024, 8:01 pm

Passengers using black, navy, or grey suitcases have been advised to take extra precautions when collecting their luggage, as Ryanair issues a warning to avoid confusion at baggage carousels. The airline, which transported 19.3 million passengers in June across 106,000 flights, recommended passengers avoid using luggage in these common colors.

In a statement, Ryanair emphasized the importance of identifying checked-in luggage, stating, “Make it easier to spot your checked-in luggage on the carousel, especially if your luggage is black, navy, or grey (like 99.9 percent of the population). Add a colourful luggage tag or ribbon to the handle so that there’s no confusion on arrival.”

While the advice to add a ribbon or tag for easy identification is widely accepted, some airport staff have raised concerns about the practice. A baggage handler from Dublin Airport cautioned that ribbons and other external items on suitcases could interfere with automatic scanners in baggage halls. The baggage handler also recommended removing old luggage stickers to avoid confusion during the scanning process.

Despite these warnings, Ryanair’s advice aims to ensure a smoother travel experience for passengers by helping them quickly identify their luggage in crowded areas.

New EU Hand Luggage And Liquid Regulations For All Airlines From September 2024: Key Details

August 30, 2024, 4:52 pm

Starting September 1, 2024, the European Union (EU) will enforce new air travel regulations to standardize hand luggage and liquid carry-on rules across all airlines operating within its member states. These changes, introduced by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, aim to simplify air travel by providing uniform guidelines regardless of the airline.

Previously, travelers within Europe faced varying regulations regarding hand luggage size, weight, and liquid restrictions, depending on the airline and airport. This inconsistency often caused confusion and inconvenience. The new rules address these issues by establishing clear, standardized requirements across all 27 EU member nations.

Uniform EU Luggage Rules Under the new guidelines, passengers can bring one carry-on bag and one small personal item, such as a purse, backpack, or laptop bag, which must fit under the seat in front of them. The carry-on bag’s maximum weight is set at 10 kilograms. The dimensions for the carry-on are limited to 55 x 40 x 20 cm, while the personal item must not exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm, including handles and wheels.

Uniform EU Liquid Rules In addition to the luggage rules, the EU is reinstating the familiar 100-ml limit on liquid containers for all passengers. This rule will apply uniformly, even in terminals with Explosive Detection Systems, which previously allowed larger liquid quantities. Starting September 1, all liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less and fit into a small, clear bag for airport security screening. The reintroduction of this rule is due to a temporary technical issue and is not in response to any new threat.

Exceptions to Uniform EU Liquid Rules Some exceptions to the liquid rules remain in place for items such as essential medical supplies, special dietary products, and baby food. The EU plans to maintain these regulations until all airports in the region are equipped with the same screening technology.

NCLT admits Go First’s plea for insolvency proceedings

May 10, 2023, 1:12 pm

Last Thursday, the budget airline submitted a petition to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), requesting the application of bankruptcy laws to protect its interests. It also sought an interim moratorium to prevent aircraft lessors from seizing its fleet of 26 planes. Furthermore, the airline requested the appointment of an insolvency resolution process (IRP) to enhance the prospects of Go First.

The NCLT, the President Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and technical member LN Gupta announced the order, adding, “We appoint Abhilash Lal as IRP (Insolvency Resolution Professional). Suspended board of directors will cooperate with the IRP.”
The NCLT court also said, “The suspended directors are also ordered to deposit Rs 5 crore to make the immediate expenses.”

On the moratorium sought by the airline, the court said, “The necessity of going into the merits of the application is that the Section 10 is already been admitted in respect of the corporate applicant and the moratorium is already being initiated.”According to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the effect of such an interim moratorium is that all pending legal proceedings with respect to any ‘debt’ are deemed to have been stayed.

Crisis-hit Go First had sought various interim directions from the NCLT bench, including restraining lessors from taking back aircraft, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) from taking any adverse action against the airline.The Wadia Group-owned airline has liabilities worth around Rs 11,000 crore.

Air India to launch TaxiBot operations at Delhi, Bengaluru airport

April 13, 2023, 4:24 pm

Air India has signed an agreement with KSU Aviation to launch TaxiBot operations at Delhi and Bengaluru airports for its Airbus A320 Family of aircraft.

HOW TAXIBOT SERVICE WORK?

The strategic partnership is aligned with Air India’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, as the adoption of TaxiBots envisages a potential saving of around 15,000 tonnes in fuel consumption over three years, said the airline statement. Semi-robotic equipment, the TaxiBot, once attached to the aircraft, acts as an extension of the aircraft’s nose landing gear. It is used on aircraft from the airport terminal gate to the taxi-out point and tow aircraft from the terminal gate after landing (taxi-in phase) without utilizing the aircraft’s engines, thus saving jet fuel. The pioneering technology curbs fuel consumption, carbon emissions, noise levels, as well as costs for airlines.

Elaborating on the adoption of TaxiBot, Air India chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director Campbell Wilson said, “As a responsible airline, Air India is constantly looking for ways to improve sustainability and manage our carbon footprint.

TAXIBOT – AN INITIATIVE TO REDUCE EMISSION & FUEL CONSUMPTION

The deployment of TaxiBots is one more example of our commitment to reducing emissions and fuel consumption. This collaboration with KSU will allow us to better assess the capabilities of TaxiBots, and potentially lead to greater deployment across Air India’s subsidiaries and other airports.”

Air India is investing in efficiency measures to adopt sustainability as part of its regular fleet operations — including inducting new aircraft, better procedures and driving operations with the deployment of innovative technology. Last year, the Air India group entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Indian Institute of Petroleum to collaborate on developing, developing, and deploying sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs).

INDIA’S SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE IN PURSUIT TO ACHIEVE ZERO- EMISSION

KSU Aviation director Ashwani Khanna said, “We are excited about the formal induction of TaxiBot as part of Air India’s focused approach to address its carbon footprint. Air India is undergoing a massive transformation and has adopted sustainable practices as an integral part of this journey. We are committed to partnering with like-minded organizations like Air India to leverage modern-day technology in reducing carbon footprint and accelerate the pursuit of being net zero.”
In October 2019, Air India, in a global first, used a TaxiBot on an Airbus A320 aircraft operating a commercial flight with passengers on board.

Scoot Flight departs early, leaving 35 passengers behind; DGCA orders probe

January 19, 2023, 12:00 pm

An Scoot Airline flight took off hours ahead of schedule, leaving behind 35 passengers at the Amritsar airport on Wednesday, after which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe.

Meanwhile, a Singapore-bound flight on Wednesday departed from its original schedule at 7:55 p.m. from the Amritsar Airport and took off at 3 p.m., hours ahead of its departure time.

Due to this, chaos was created at the airport when angry passengers who were left behind staged a protest. The passengers registered their complaint.

Moreover, after this, the airport authorities contacted the airline and were informed about the change in flight time via e-mail.

“Around 280 passengers were to travel to Singapore, but 253 passengers were rescheduled, leaving over 30 passengers behind,” the Amritsar airport director said.

Scoot Airline a Singaporean low-cost airline that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and the Amritsar Airport authority.

However, according to the airline, the change in timing was informed to all the passengers via authority.

Earlier, GoFirst Airlines took off from Bengaluru and left 55 passengers behind at Bangalore Airport, after which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to the Chief Operation Officer of GoFirst Airlines.

Furthermore, 55 passengers at Bangalore airport were left behind on the Delhi-bound Go First flight G8-116. Many passengers registered a complaint against Go First.

Nepal Plane Crash: Nepal Army hands over black box to Civil Aviation Authority

January 16, 2023, 4:09 pm

The Nepal Army handed over the black box of the Yeti Airlines aircraft, which crashed on Sunday with 72 people, to Civil Aviation Authority officials on Monday.

Following the crash, the Nepal Army also handed over the flight data recorder. Earlier on Sunday, minutes before touch-down, the twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft from Kathmandu crashed in Pokhara. In the crash, all the passengers lost their lives, and so far 68 bodies have been recovered.

Assistant Chief District Officer of Kaski, Nepal, Anil Kumar Shahi said, “Bodies of passengers, whose identities have been established, have been sent for post-mortem. A group of experts also has arrived at the spot. The bodies will be handed over to the families here but those of the crew members, foreigners and the ones yet to be identified will be sent to Kathmandu this evening.”

Meanwhile, on Monday morning, the search and rescue operations at the crash site resumed, and a black box was recovered.

“Till last evening (Sunday), we had collected 63 bodies and shifted them to a hospital, while 3 were spotted but could not be retrieved. Today (Monday), we recovered 6 more bodies. Three more are missing, and a search is underway to retrieve these bodies at the earliest,” Shahi said.

Furthermore, 68 passengers, including five Indians, and four crew members died on Sunday.

The airlines expressed their grief and tweeted, “In mourning for the passengers who lost their lives in the accident of Yeti Airlines 9N ANC ATR 72 500, we would like to inform you that all regular flights for January 16, 2023, have been canceled.”

However, to mourn the loss of lives in the air crash, Nepal’s Yeti Airlines canceled regular flights on Monday.

Air India Urination Incident: Air India CEO apologizes; crew, pilot de-rostered

January 7, 2023, 3:05 pm

Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson on Saturday issued an apology in connection with a man who allegedly peed at an elderly woman traveling in business class on an Air India flight on 26 November 2022.

Meanwhile, the airline has also issued show cause notices to four of its cabin crew and one pilot and de-rostered them pending investigations.

Moreover, CEO Campbell Wilson issued a statement and said, “any improper behavior on board to authorities at the earliest even if the matter appears to be resolved”.

CEO Wilson in the letter to Air India employees stated that necessary actions against those people who will not follow the flight rules will be taken.

“This week has, ‘regrettably’, been dominated by media headlines of which you are no doubt familiar. The repulsion felt by the affected passenger is totally understandable and we share her distress,” Campbell said.

“Whilst the story is more complicated than has been reported, there are clearly some lessons we can and must learn. Most importantly is that, if an incident on our aircraft involves improper behavior of such magnitude, we must report it to authorities at the earliest opportunity, even if we genuinely believe that the matter has been settled between the parties involved. The same applies in the case of passengers deemed to meet the threshold of ‘Unruly’,” the letter reads.

“We must also be clear on the standard of behavior that is expected on our aircraft and take firm, decisive, and timely action against those who do not comply,” Campbell said.

The CEO further stated, “Though there are numerous cases in which we have done exactly this, I have asked that these, and other relevant aspects of the Safety and Emergency Procedures Manual, be immediately reiterated by operating departments and reinforced in recurrent training, and I ask each of you to reflect on what you would do if faced with such situations. As in any other area, knowledge and preparation underpin confidence and outcome.”

Earlier on Friday Shankar Mishra was arrested by the Delhi Police from Bengaluru.

US-based financial service company Wells Fargo where Shankar Mishra used to work they have terminated him.

“Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviors and we find these allegations deeply disturbing. This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo. We are cooperating with law enforcement and ask that any additional inquiries be directed to them,” the company stated.

However, on 4 January against the accused FIR was registered by the woman co-passenger to Air India.