Goa’s airports witnessed unprecedented chaos on Friday as Indi Go cancelled 57 flights across Dabolim and Mopa amid the airline’s nationwide operational crisis, leaving thousands of passengers stranded, many without clear information or assistance. According to airport sources, 31 flights were cancelled at Dabolim International Airport and 26 at Manohar International Airport, Mopa, impacting key routes includ ing Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Indore, Jaipur and Bhopal. More than 3,000 passengers were stranded at Dabolim alone, as cancel lations continued through the day.
Passengers arriving early in the morning for scheduled departures were met with abrupt cancellation notices, long queues at helpdesks, and overcrowded terminals. Many described the situation as ‘chaotic’ and ‘unmanage able’, with limited staff available to handle the surge. Mumbai-bound passenger John Fernandes said he spent hours trying to rebook. “After the cancellation, finding an other flight was exhausting. Everything was either full or unbelievably expensive. People have missed work, fami ly events, medical appointments… and December travel costs make it even worse,” he said. Fernandes also criticised the airline’s communication. “Flights marked as ‘delayed’ were suddenly cancelled af ter passengers checked in. Baggage was already loaded. That left people completely stuck,” said Fernandes. The inconsistency in announcements left passengers unsure whether to stay at the airport or return home. Some said they had lost trust in the airline’s assurances about refunds and accommodation. Bengaluru-bound traveller Albert Pinto described the scene as ‘overwhelming’. “Helplines weren’t functioning, counters were overcrowded and no one knew whom to approach. Passengers were running between terminals trying to locate baggage or find accurate updates.
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The lack of support for elderly travellers and those with medical needs was especially distressing,” he said. Several international tourists were also stranded. “For eign tourists looked completely lost. They didn’t know whom to approach for refunds or rebooking. Many had fixed tour plans and hotel bookings and were in a panic,” said Vimal Kumar from Bhopal. Lost baggage also deepened the crisis. Some passengers who reached Goa found their luggage stuck in other cities, adding to their stress during an already difficult day. A wheelchair-bound passenger travelling to Bhopal for a planned surgery said she received only a cancellation message with a refund notice. “What will we do with the refund? I need to reach Bhopal for surgery… I have been sitting here with no assistance,” she said. Another traveller with pancreatic complications said he felt abandoned. “I had high expectations from IndiGo. This has never happened in four years of travelling,” he said. Scenes of anxiety and frustration intensified as the day progressed. At certain counters, CRPF personnel were de ployed to manage crowds as tempers flared. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) former president Nilesh Shah described the situation as unprec edented. “In three decades, I’ve never seen disruptions on this scale. My own flight from Goa to Mumbai was shifted from Dabolim to Mopa, then delayed repeatedly. We sat for hours inside the aircraft due to congestion in Mumbai. The situation is truly pathetic,” he said. A travel agent from Ahmedabad said online booking systems were still showing available seats despite mass cancellations. “We are not getting any response on the ground.
Passengers are being told refunds will be issued, but who will compensate for hotel, food and alternative travel costs? Other airlines are not accommodating anyone,” he said. IndiGo issued a public apology acknowledging the se verity of the disruptions. “We deeply apologise and under stand how difficult the past few days have been. While this will not be resolved overnight, we are doing everything possible to restore operations,” the airline said. With IndiGo handling nearly 65% of India’s domestic traffic, industry insiders warn that disruptions may con tinue until staffing issues and scheduling backlogs are re solved.
