Passengers aboard a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Darbhanga on Wednesday were left gasping for air as they sat inside the aeroplane without air conditioning for over an hour amid the ongoing heatwave gripping Delhi.
The incident, which occurred on flight SG 476, led to several passengers feeling unwell. Rohan Kumar, a passenger on the flight, stated, "At the Delhi airport after the check-in, they did not switch on the air-conditioning (AC) for an hour. The temperature inside (flight) was 40 degrees. The passengers were suffering. The air-conditioner (AC) was switched on when the flight took off."
In a video, the passengers were visibly experiencing discomfort with many sweating continuously. While a woman used a handkerchief to fan herself amid the high temperatures, a man used a magazine to provide himself relief.
However, a spokesperson for SpiceJet denied the allegations, stating that flight SG 476 departed on time and the air conditioning functioned normally throughout the journey. “SpiceJet flight SG 476 from Delhi to Darbhanga on June 19, scheduled to depart at 11 am, departed on time without any delays. The air conditioning was working normally throughout the flight, which was verified and cross-checked upon arrival in Darbhanga.During boarding in Delhi, the air conditioning initially experienced slight inefficiency due to extreme weather conditions and both doors of the aircraft being open, as boarding was not via the aerobridge. The doors were promptly closed after boarding completion, and the cooling functioned normally thereafter," he said.
Delhi, currently reeling under severe heatwave, recorded its warmest night in over a decade with temperatures soaring well above seasonal norms. Hospitals are reporting a spike in patients suffering from heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and exhaustion.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted pre-monsoon showers in Delhi over the next few days, offering a potential respite from the intense heatwave .
that has gripped the region. However, IMD experts cautioned that heatwave conditions are expected to persist across North India, except Uttar Pradesh, for at least the next 24 hours before gradually easing.
