Mumbai: As IndiGo’s nationwide flight disruptions continue to strand passengers and spark tempers at airports, actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood has appealed for calm, calling it “unfair” to target airline ground staff who have no control over the unfolding crisis.
Airports across major cities have witnessed repeated confrontations in recent days, with videos of shouting matches and emotional outbursts going viral online. With hundreds of flights delayed or cancelled, tensions have boiled over inside terminals where passengers have demanded clarity, refunds and urgent rebookings.
Sood Calls for Empathy Amid Travel Chaos
In a video message posted on X on Saturday morning, Sood acknowledged the frustration felt by thousands of travellers but urged them not to direct their anger at frontline airline workers.
“My own family had to wait for almost five hours before their flight finally left,” he shared, noting that countless others missed important events, from weddings to business meetings. “People are going through a lot, but the saddest part is seeing the way some are shouting at the ground staff.”
Sood stressed that airline employees stationed at check-in counters and boarding gates often receive limited information themselves, leaving them unable to provide the answers passengers seek.
“Put yourself in their place,” he said. “They don’t know whether a flight will leave or be cancelled. They only pass on whatever message they get. They are helpless too.”
‘Control Your Anger and Respect Them’
The actor, known for his humanitarian work during the pandemic, reminded travellers that staff members are not responsible for operational failures.
“As responsible citizens, we need to ensure we don’t react harshly towards them,” he said. “Please stay calm. Control your anger. Treat them with respect.”
His message has since been widely shared, drawing appreciation from many who felt the airline workers’ perspective had been missing from the public conversation.
Regulator Steps In With High-Level Probe
The growing outrage and disruptions have now drawn the attention of aviation authorities. On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced the formation of a four-member committee to investigate the root causes behind IndiGo’s widespread operational collapse.
The committee will assess staffing, scheduling decisions and internal communication lapses that may have contributed to the crisis. The regulator’s move follows days of complaints, crowding and confusion at major airports, prompting calls for accountability and immediate corrective action.
Passengers Still Waiting for Relief
With flight schedules still uneven and delays continuing across multiple cities, travellers are hoping both the airline and aviation authorities provide clearer updates in the coming days.
For now, Sood’s message resonates as thousands remain stuck in terminals: frustration is understandable — but compassion, he argues, is essential.
