✈️ Supreme Court & Delhi High Court Step In Amid Indigo Flight Cancellation Crisis: Passengers Stranded, PILs Filed Seeking Refunds & Support

India's aviation sector is facing one of the most disruptive weeks in recent memory, as a shortage of pilots and internal management challenges at IndiGo airlines have led to hundreds of flights being cancelled and widespread delays at major airports. With nearly lakhs of passengers stranded across the country and many left without food, shelter, or clear communication, the situation has triggered a strong judicial inquiry at the highest level.

Supreme Court expresses concern

On Monday, India's Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the growing crisis, highlighting the hardships being faced by thousands of air passengers affected by IndiGo's mass cancellations. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Suryakant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, observed that the current situation has created chaos at airports across the country.

"This is a serious matter. Lakhs of people are stranded at airports. We know that the Government of India has taken timely steps and taken note of this issue. People may have health problems etc."

— CJI Suryakant

The remarks were made by a lawyer after referring to a petition seeking immediate listing, which said that IndiGo is suffering from a severe shortage of pilots and has failed to comply with the new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms, which has led to this disruption in operations.

The petitioner argued that passengers are neither being informed nor provided proper assistance, due to which they are becoming helpless in the crowded terminals.

Government action and Supreme Court's stand

The Supreme Court accepted that the central government has already initiated emergency interventions, but did not order immediate listing of the petition. The matter is expected to be taken up in the regular schedule.

Parallel petition in Delhi High Court

Meanwhile, a similar public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking immediate relief for the affected passengers - including full refund, compensation and mandatory assistance services at the airport such as accommodation, food and alternative travel arrangements.

The PIL argues that the situation faced by stranded passengers is "inhumane", with many sleeping on the floor, missing medical appointments, losing bookings that cannot be refunded and facing financial and emotional distress.

"We have filed a PIL in the IndiGo case. Many people are stranded. The ground situation at the airport is inhumane. We expect the court to order IndiGo and provide ground support to those stranded at the airport. There is no proper refund."

— Advocate appearing before the Delhi High Court

A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and agreed to list the case on Wednesday, noting that the government has already issued specific directions, but further review may be required.

What triggered the crisis

According to industry reports, IndiGo’s operations have been hit hard after several pilots protested following disputes over the implementation of revised FDTL – Flight Duty Time Limit norms designed to improve pilot safety and reduce fatigue.

Due to the sudden reduction in available crew and inadequate contingency planning, the airline has been forced to cancel numerous domestic and international flights, causing major disruptions across its aviation network.

Passenger experience

Social media has been awash with images and videos showing:

Long queues outside airport terminals

Passengers sleeping on the floor without basic amenities

Elderly, children and patients stranded for hours

Last-minute SMS cancellations with no alternative options

Refund requests are being delayed or rejected

Many passengers claim they were not informed until minutes before their scheduled departure.

Industry impact and next steps

Experts predict it could take days or weeks for normal operations to stabilize, depending on pilot availability and emergency government directives. Consumer rights groups are urging the enforcement of aviation compensation rules, while legal experts say the outcome of these petitions could redefine passenger rights in India.

Both courts are expected to keep a close eye on the situation as the crisis unfolds.