WATCH | Woman climbs IndiGo counter at Mumbai airport amid flight cancellations

As IndiGo’s mass flight cancellations continue to disrupt travel across India, a video of an African woman climbing onto the airline’s counter at Mumbai Airport and shouting at staff has gone viral on social media.

More than 400 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Friday, compounding an operational crisis that has left thousands of passengers stranded at major hubs across the country. Against this backdrop of mounting frustration, the viral clip shows the woman demanding answers after her flight was abruptly cancelled. When she allegedly receives no response, she loses her temper, climbs onto the service counter, and begins shouting about the airline’s “mismanagement”.

Other passengers can be seen crowding around the counter, many appearing equally distressed by the disruption. The video was shared on Instagram by user @ishalpatel.vj with the caption: “Indigo delays and Passenger relays.”

Mixed Social Media Reactions

Reaction online has been divided. One user criticised the woman’s behaviour, writing:

“I’m sorry what you are going through but how will yelling and harassing commercial staff and ground support team help you?”

Others expressed sympathy. One commenter said:

“She must really be going through something and the flight meant something to her. Cancellation of the flight might have been something hard for her to accept, I feel her pain.”

Several users defended her frustration, suggesting the airline should be held accountable.

“Indigo airline always do this delay in flights, and because of this, the lady missed her international connecting flight. She has every right to be frustrated… IndiGo should take responsibility and provide compensation. This situation is not fair,” one person wrote.

Another Instagram user claimed the woman said she had been forced to abandon her travel plans entirely:

“‘I’m going back to my country. I’m returning because you ruined my ticket… They ruined everything. They spoiled everything… There’s nothing to eat, nowhere to sleep. I’m leaving and going back.’ This is what she said,” the commenter noted.

The video emerged as IndiGo grapples with severe operational challenges. Over recent days, more than 1000 flights have reportedly been cancelled or delayed, with the carrier struggling to adjust to newly-implemented, stringent crew rostering regulations.