An IndiGo flight from Kanpur to Delhi was delayed by over three hours on Sunday after passengers spotted a rat inside the aircraft, prompting evacuation and inspection procedures.
The flight, carrying 140 passengers, was scheduled to depart Kanpur at 2:55 pm and land in Delhi by 4:10 pm. However, the incident delayed its departure until 6:03 pm, with the aircraft finally arriving in Delhi at 7:16 pm.
According to Kanpur airport media in-charge Vivek Singh, all passengers had already boarded when one passenger noticed the rodent moving around in the cabin and alerted the cabin crew. As a precautionary measure, the airline staff evacuated all passengers safely from the aircraft.
A search for the rodent lasted approximately one-and-a-half hours before the flight was cleared for departure. Officials emphasized that the safety of passengers, crew, and aircraft remains their top priority.
This incident comes a week after another IndiGo flight (6E 1089) bound for Phuket from Mumbai was diverted to Chennai following a bomb threat, later determined to be a hoax. Authorities ensured passenger safety and conducted thorough inspections before allowing the flight to continue.
IndiGo has stated that passenger safety and comfort remain paramount, and all necessary arrangements, including refreshments, were provided to minimize inconvenience caused by the delay.
