Around 50 Passengers Miss IndiGo Abu Dhabi Flight After Traffic Jam Near Lonavala; Travellers Demand Inquiry

About 50 travellers miss an IndiGo Abu Dhabi flight at Mumbai airport due to a massive expressway traffic jam near Lonavala, leading to financial losses and stress.

Pune | 05 February, 2026 – Nearly 50 passengers bound for Abu Dhabi missed their IndiGo international flight from Mumbai airport after getting stuck in a massive traffic jam on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway near Lonavala, triggering anger, distress, and demands for accountability. The incident highlights how road transport disruptions can severely impact air travel plans, especially for international passengers with fixed departure timelines.

The flight was scheduled to depart early in the morning, and many of the affected passengers had begun their journey from Pune and nearby talukas nearly 12 hours in advance to avoid delays. However, their plans went awry after a major traffic snarl caused by an accident involving a heavy vehicle near the ghat section, which brought traffic to a standstill for several hours. Vehicles were reportedly stuck bumper-to-bumper late into the night, leaving travellers stranded with no clear updates.

After waiting for hours, several passengers decided to abandon their vehicles and take alternative routes. Some travelled toward nearby railway stations and boarded late-night trains in an effort to reach Mumbai on time. Others hired taxis at inflated prices in desperation. Despite these efforts, the group reached the airport only shortly before departure, by which time boarding had reportedly closed.

Passengers allege that even though they arrived before the scheduled take-off time, they were denied boarding. Many claimed this resulted in significant financial losses, including unused flight tickets, hotel bookings, visa expenses, and connecting travel arrangements. Several affected travellers were first-time international flyers, making the experience particularly stressful and emotionally draining.

The incident has raised serious questions about passenger handling policies during extraordinary circumstances such as road accidents and large-scale traffic disruptions. Travel experts point out that while airlines operate on strict schedules, better communication, ground-level coordination, and contingency protocols could help mitigate passenger hardship during such events.

The affected passengers are now considering approaching civil aviation authorities and consumer grievance forums, seeking compensation and a review of airline boarding policies. They have also urged authorities to improve real-time traffic management on the expressway, especially during night hours when long-distance travellers depend heavily on road connectivity to catch early morning flights.

The episode underscores broader challenges faced by travellers in India, where expressway traffic conditions, airport timelines, and airline rules often collide, leaving passengers caught in between. As international travel continues to rise, experts believe coordinated planning between transport authorities and aviation stakeholders is essential to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In conclusion, the missed IndiGo Abu Dhabi flight incident serves as a stark reminder of how unpredictable road conditions can derail even well-planned journeys. With passengers demanding accountability and systemic improvements, the case may prompt renewed focus on passenger rights, emergency response mechanisms, and travel-time advisories for international flights departing from Mumbai.

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