Travel mishaps can unfold unexpectedly, and for one passenger aboard SpiceJet Flight SG268, a routine domestic journey turned into an hour-long ordeal inside the airplane’s restroom.
This incident, which occurred on a flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru on January 16, has sparked concern about passenger safety and the airline’s response, according to The Times of India.
Flight SG268: A Brief Overview
Before delving into the unfortunate incident, let’s take a brief look at the details surrounding SpiceJet Flight SG268. This Boeing 737 flight typically spans just over an hour, covering the distance from Mumbai to Bengaluru. The flight took off at 2.13 am and, as per FlightRadar24 data, landed after a one-hour and seven-minute journey.
As the flight soared through the skies, a passenger seated in 14D faced an unexpected and distressing situation. After a visit to the restroom, he found himself unable to open the door, leading to a series of frantic attempts to seek assistance. Despite the crew’s efforts from both inside and outside the lavatory, the door remained stubbornly shut.
Crew Intervention: A Handwritten Note and Assurances
In a bid to console the trapped passenger, the crew resorted to slipping a handwritten note under the restroom door. The note assured the passenger that the plane would be landing in a “few minutes” and urged him to secure himself by sitting on the closed commode lid. The crew’s reassurances aimed to alleviate panic during this unnerving situation.
Upon landing at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, engineers swiftly boarded the plane to address the issue. The door was eventually broken open, freeing the passenger who had spent almost the entire flight confined to the toilet. An airport official remarked on the passenger’s claustrophobia-induced trauma, highlighting the psychological toll such incidents can take.
Post-Liberation Turbulence: Passenger’s Account
The 37-year-old software professional, after his rescue, shared his harrowing experience of being tossed around the confined restroom during the plane’s landing. His emergence from the lavatory was marked by physical bruising and blurry vision. Contrary to his expectations, he claimed to have received minimal medical assistance, being provided only with a bottle of water and apologies.
SpiceJet, in response to the incident, issued an apology, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to the passenger. The airline assured that immediate medical support was provided and expressed regret for the traumatic experience. As a gesture of compensation, a full refund was offered, along with a voucher worth 5,000 rupees (S$81), which the passenger declined.
Unsatisfied with the offered compensation, the affected passenger revealed plans to sue the airline and file a complaint with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This decision underscores the need for stringent measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and holds airlines accountable for ensuring passenger safety and well-being.
FULL VIDEO LOADING…
Source: @ShivAroor and @HateDetectors on X