Pune: Technical Snag Causes 8-Hour Delay for SpiceJet’s Pune-Dubai Flight, Frustrates Flyers
In a significant disruption, over 100 passengers on SpiceJet’s Pune-Dubai flight faced an extended delay on Wednesday night due to a technical issue. The flight, which was originally scheduled to depart at 8.50 PM from Pune and arrive in Dubai at 10.55 PM, eventually took off around 5 AM on Thursday. This eight-hour delay was caused by a technical snag that necessitated a parts change, requiring components to be transported to Pune from two different stations.
The airline issued an official statement acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the delay. “SpiceJet flight SG 51 was delayed due to a technical issue, which necessitated a parts change. Passengers were served refreshments during their wait at the airport. SpiceJet regrets the discomfort caused,” the spokesperson said.
Passengers expressed significant frustration over the disruption. One passenger shared the impact of the delay on their vacation plans, highlighting the financial losses and wasted time due to the delay. Similarly, Sudhir Mehta, a prominent city businessman and former president of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), noted the dissatisfaction among passengers and questioned the airline’s accountability for frequent delays on this critical route.
SpiceJet's Pune to Dubai flight departed today after a 9-hour delay. It's infuriating that this isn't an isolated incident, and @flyspicejet seems to evade accountability for these persistently absurd delays.
— Dr. Sudhir Mehta (@sudhirmehtapune) April 11, 2024
This is yet another slap in the face for #Pune and Punekars—a critical…
Further exacerbating the situation, some business travelers opted to cancel their tickets and travel to Dubai via Mumbai instead. Amitesh Chavan, another businessman, voiced concerns over the lack of options and called for airport authorities to engage with the airline and encourage other carriers to start services on this route.
