Pune: Chaos at Airport as Akasa Air Cancels Ahmedabad Flight After 16-Hour Delay
Pune, January 19, 2026: Passengers scheduled to fly from Pune to Ahmedabad on Akasa Air flight QP1509 were left stranded and fuming at Pune Airport this weekend following a grueling 16-hour delay that culminated in a flight cancellation.
The ordeal began on the night of January 17, with passengers reporting that the flight, originally scheduled to depart late Saturday night, was repeatedly pushed back. By Sunday morning, January 18, frustration boiled over as travelers, including senior citizens and parents with newborns, claimed they were left without clear communication or adequate assistance.
“Shameful Behaviour”: Passengers Take to Social Media
Disgruntled passengers took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their grievances, tagging the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol.
One passenger, Het Mehta, described the situation as “shameful,” alleging that the airline changed boarding gates multiple times before finally announcing the cancellation after a four-hour wait on Sunday morning. “Their mouth is shut, not assisting and helping on any grounds for anything,” Mehta posted, calling for strict action against the airline.
Shameful behaviour by @AkasaAir , They made us wait for 4 hours and now saying the flight is cancelled.
— Het Mehta (@hetmehtaa) January 17, 2026
Flight QP1509 was supposed to depart on 10:15, they changed the gates multiple times and wasted our time and now their mouth is shut, not assisting and helping on any grounds… pic.twitter.com/TJLHA4iJEF
Another traveler, Sanjiv Patil, highlighted the plight of vulnerable passengers. “Chaos at Pune Airport. No clarity about flight status… Senior citizens, newborns are suffering. Need solution urgently,” Patil shared, noting that the delay had persisted since 10:00 PM on January 17.
@mohol_murlidhar @MoCA_GoI ji need your urgent intervention. @AkasaAir @ResponseAkasa Pune to Ahmedabad Flight QP1509 is getting delayed since 22:00 hrs from 17th January, Chaos at Pune Airport, No clarity about flight status as of Now. Senior Citizens, New Borns are suffering.… pic.twitter.com/mW6aFvgCxi
— SanjiV Patill (@Sanjiv_Patill) January 17, 2026
Airline Cites “Operational Reasons”
Responding to the backlash, Akasa Air issued a statement attributing the disruption to “operational reasons.”
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience this has caused and understand how it may have impacted your travel plans,” the airline stated. “Our team on the ground is assisting all impacted passengers with refreshments, alternative flights, and refunds.”
Despite the airline’s claims of ground support, several passengers on-site reported a lack of transparency and a chaotic environment at the terminal, with many demanding better accountability from new-age carriers regarding technical and operational preparedness.
The DGCA has been urged by flyers to investigate the frequency of such cancellations and the adequacy of passenger compensation provided by the airline during the standoff.
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