Broken windshield delays SpiceJet flight in Pune

Pune: As the windshield of a Delhi-bound SpiceJet aircraft was broken, 40 passengers had to remain stranded at Lohgaon Airport, Pune, for over seven hours on Wednesday.

The flight which was originally scheduled to take off at 7.20 am finally took off at 4 pm in the evening.

The SpiceJet statement read, “SpiceJet flight number 999 (Pune-Delhi) was scheduled to take off from Pune at 7:20am but a crack was seen on the windscreen. Men and material required to repair the windscreen were got from Delhi and Chennai. However, the runway at Lohegoan airport was closed from 8am to 10.30am. That is why our men and material could not reach Pune earlier. Later, the windscreen was repaired. The flight took off at 4 pm.”

The SpiceJet added that “Some passengers were moved to flights of other airlines while the rest travelled by the scheduled SpiceJet flight. While at the airport, passengers were served refreshments and accommodated in the lounge. Safety is of the utmost and primary concern at SpiceJet, and we will always ensure that at no point, safety is compromised.”

Shekhar Khakurdikar, one of the passengers, said, “The flight was scheduled at 7.20am but we were told to board at 8am. After 20 minutes, we were asked to come out of the plane. Officials told us that flight would take off at 10.30 am. We were told again and again that the flight would take off after another two hours. Finally, it took off at 4 pm.”

Manik Saini, another passenger, said, “I had to reach to Delhi by afternoon for a business meeting but now, I don’t have any other option but to cancel the meeting and wait.”