SpiceJet Flight SG105 Returns to Gate After Cabin Overheats in Delhi

A SpiceJet flight scheduled to depart Delhi for Pune encountered a severe cabin overheating issue on Tuesday night, compelling passengers to intervene and ultimately forcing the aircraft to return to the gate without taking off. The flight, SG105, was set to leave Delhi's Terminal 1 at 9:55 p.m. when air conditioning failed to cool the cabin. Passengers reported intense heat inside the aircraft, with some struggling to breathe as temperatures climbed uncomfortably high.

Reports indicate that after boarding, the cabin temperature rose rapidly, leading to passengers drenched in sweat, crying children, and pregnant women and elderly passengers becoming ill. Visual footage shows passengers standing in the aisles, fanning themselves with magazines and menu cards, and a pregnant woman close to fainting was assisted back into the terminal in a wheelchair. The discomfort escalated to the point where passengers gathered near the forward door demanding to leave the aircraft. One individual threatened to forcibly open the door, which flight attendants explained would be unsafe as the aircraft stairs had already been removed.

Passengers initially believed the cabin would cool once engines started and the plane began movement. However, the aircraft appeared to taxi or remain outside the gate for roughly 40 to 45 minutes while conditions worsened inside. The exact nature of the malfunction remains unclear although speculation suggests a failure in the auxiliary power unit or air conditioning pack, potentially preventing proper cooling even with engines running. The plane may have pushed back but remained stationary due to maintenance or operational delays.

During this ordeal, the captain and airline personnel reportedly threatened to call police when passengers refused to take their seats and allow continuation of the flight. Eventually, the aircraft returned to the gate where maintenance personnel conducted inspections, confirming the plane was unfit for flight. To resolve the situation, SpiceJet replaced the aircraft with another Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed over seven hours later than scheduled.

SpiceJet acknowledged a last-minute technical issue affected flight SG105, conceding the need to substitute the aircraft. However, the airline maintained that air conditioning was operational throughout and attributed passenger discomfort partly to extreme Delhi weather conditions. This explanation was met with skepticism given prior similar incidents and the severity of the onboard heat experienced by passengers.

This event follows a series of recent complaints and incidents involving SpiceJet flights on the Delhi-Pune route and others, where passengers endured long delays in overheated cabins. Earlier this year, in March and June, multiple flights involved passengers suffering from inadequate cooling, sometimes resulting in flight cancellations after hours of heat exposure onboard. Critics argue that SpiceJet's standard response blaming external weather conditions fails to address apparent systemic issues with onboard climate control systems.

The passenger intervention on SG105 has drawn significant attention due to the safety risks posed by the overheating. While SpiceJet contests that no major accident was prevented, the incident raised questions about aircraft readiness, air conditioning system maintenance, and passenger welfare during pre-flight holds. The prolonged exposure to high temperatures in a tightly enclosed space can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and exacerbate medical issues, particularly among vulnerable travelers.

The regulatory and operational implications for SpiceJet are considerable, as repeated episodes highlight flaws in ground and onboard systems designed to maintain safe and comfortable cabin environments. The airline industry’s challenge to ensure functional environmental control systems before departure is underscored by this episode. Authorities and passengers alike expect more rigorous maintenance and responsiveness to avoid recurrence of such hazardous situations.