Editor,
I am writing because of the bizarre Indigo Flight 6E 7304 heading from Kolkata NTSB International Airport to Shillong (Umroi) Airport on September 22.
I am not a passenger of this particular flight but I was at the airport (Shillong Airport) when this incident happened, one of my colleagues was arriving from Kolkata that particular day, i.e, September 22 which is a Friday. Everything was smooth as he narrated over the phone and the flight took off uneventfully.
I was travelling to New Delhi on SpiceJet and for me everything was all right. We took off earlier than the departure time. I was happy and had a comfortable flight to New Delhi.
Now, let’s talk back about this particular flight Indigo 6E 7304 where my friend has to bear the brunt of!
The aircraft was supposed to touchdown at Shillong Airport around 11:55 am as per scheduled ETA.
But to much of a surprise, the aircraft and its passengers didn’t reach the scheduled destination, even when the aircraft had already entered Shillong air space. To my distress, they diverted the flight back to Kolkata (CCU) and their reason was that due to bad weather or poor visibility that they were unable to land.
Visibility that day was clear enough for touchdown, ILS facility is there in our airport, if it was a Visual Approach then yes, they could have diverted. Nevertheless, I didn’t believe this story from Indigo because Alliance Air took off and landed around the same time in Shillong that day and I was also flying to New Delhi with SpiceJet, my flight was not affected, nor cancelled, delayed or anything. It was a smooth touchdown for incoming passengers from Delhi and also the take off was good. No turbulence, nothing like that, it was a smooth and uneventful flight.
I am writing this because I was very saddened as my friend had to come home due to an urgent family emergency. Hence I am writing this letter, demanding answers from Indigo, my questions are why didn’t they reroute the flight to LGBI Borjhar (Guwahati) International Airport which is more convenient and nearer to Shillong or any airport in the North East states.
I am also pointing out the fact that Indigo’s fares are skyrocketing, Indigo CCU-SHG-CCU being an UDAN Scheme RCS beneficiary, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA and AAI should see all these problems with the airline and resolve all these and answer our questions.
I hope to see a change in aviation especially from our lone beautiful Umroi Airport and that these grievances are addressed. I’m looking forward to a better flying experience in future.
Chanmiki Laloo
Shillong – 2
