IndiGo flight delayed in Varanasi after pilot reports illness

An IndiGo flight, 6E-6544, traveling from Varanasi to Mumbai, experienced a three-and-a-half-hour delay at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport on Thursday. The disruption occurred after the scheduled captain reported sick shortly before departure.

Because Varanasi is not an IndiGo base station, the airline had to arrange for a replacement pilot to be flown in from Ahmedabad. Passengers were provided with refreshments while the alternative arrangements were being finalized.

Varanasi airport director Puneet Gupta attributed the delay to technical reasons and denied reports of passenger unrest at the airport. The flight eventually departed for Mumbai once the replacement pilot arrived and necessary arrangements were completed.