3 weeks ago
Passengers Refuse SpiceJet Flight After AC Failure Sparks Breathing Difficulties
A big airplane was supposed to fly from Delhi to Pune in India.
When the passengers got on, the air conditioner was not working.
The cabin got very hot and humid, like being inside a warm oven.
Even when the plane started moving toward the runway, the air did not get cooler.
People started sweating a lot, and some found it hard to breathe.
A few passengers, including pregnant women, felt dizzy and unwell.
The passengers asked the pilot to stop the plane and open the doors.
They said the crew shouted at them and even warned them about the police.
The plane went back to the gate and everyone got off safely.
The airline sent another plane, and passengers want safety officials to take action.
More than 100 passengers on SpiceJet flight SG-105 refused to continue their Delhi-Pune journey after the aircraft's air conditioning allegedly failed, leaving the cabin hot and humid.
Passengers reported profuse sweating, suffocation, dizziness and breathing difficulties; accounts differ on whether the cabin was hot from boarding or the temperature suddenly spiked.
Passengers alleged the captain and crew shouted at them, behaved insensitively, and warned that police could be called when they demanded the takeoff be aborted.
A technical glitch in the aircraft's ventilation system was identified, and the plane returned to the bay, where passengers disembarked and protested, seeking action from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
SpiceJet apologised, citing a last-minute technical issue, and arranged an alternate aircraft that departed around 5:30 am Wednesday and reached Pune around 7 am.
- Who
- Over 100 passengers, including children, elderly travellers and expectant mothers, on SpiceJet flight SG-105, along with the flight's cabin crew and pilot
- What
- An air conditioning and ventilation malfunction caused the cabin temperature to spike, leading passengers to suffer breathing difficulties and refuse to continue the flight
- Where
- Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, on a flight bound for Pune
- When
- Night of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, while the aircraft taxied for a scheduled 9:30 pm departure; a replacement flight departed around 5:30 am Wednesday
- Why
- A technical glitch in the aircraft's ventilation system left the cabin hot and humid without adequate airflow
Passenger Perspective
Airline Perspective
Crew conduct during the crisis
Passenger Perspective
Passengers allege the captain and crew shouted at protesters, behaved insensitively, warned of police action and refused to address their medical discomfort.
Airline Perspective
SpiceJet described the event as a last-minute technical issue and apologised, framing its response as routine handling of an aircraft problem.
Responsibility for the aircraft's condition
Passenger Perspective
Passengers say the aircraft was moved toward the runway despite the hot, humid cabin and allege the airline compromised their safety by letting the situation continue.
Airline Perspective
SpiceJet stated that the technical issue surfaced at the last minute and that an alternate aircraft was arranged so the flight could still operate to Pune.
Key facts
- Airline
- SpiceJet
- Flight
- SG-105, Delhi to Pune
- Scheduled departure
- 9:30 pm, Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- Cause
- Technical glitch in the aircraft's ventilation/AC system
- Passengers affected
- Over 100 refused to continue the journey
- Passenger impact
- Profuse sweating, breathing difficulties, dizziness; some taken to terminal in wheelchairs
- Airline response
- Alternate aircraft arranged; departed ~5:30 am Wednesday, reached Pune ~7 am
- Demands
- Regulatory action from DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation
Quotes
Passengers
A group of passengers on the SpiceJet flight
“After boarding the flight, the temperature inside the aircraft suddenly shot up dramatically. The temperature rose so much that people couldn’t bear it. Everyone was drenched in sweat. People started facing a lot of difficulty even breathing. In such a situation, the flight was brought to the runway.”
freepressjournal.in
“We remained patient because, in many cases, the air‑conditioning is turned up after the aircraft starts taxiing following gate closure.”
telegraphindia.com
SpiceJet spokesperson
Spokesperson for SpiceJet airline
“SpiceJet deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to the passengers.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
‘Could not breathe’: SpiceJet Delhi-Pune flight returns to bay after flyers refuse to fly over faulty AC
'Difficulty Breathing, Sweating': SpiceJet Delhi-Pune Flight Passengers Deboarded After Cabin Turns Unbearably Hot Before Take-Off; Watch Viral Video
Mid-Air Panic: Passengers Suffer Breathing Difficulties on Pune-Bound SpiceJet Flight After AC Malfunction | VIDEO
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