A SpiceJet passenger flying from Mumbai to Bengaluru found himself trapped in the aircraft’s toilet for over an hour due to a malfunctioning door lock. The incident occurred when the passenger attempted to exit the lavatory mid-flight, only to discover that the lock was stuck. Efforts by the crew to unlock the door proved unsuccessful, leaving the passenger confined until the plane landed in Bengaluru.
SpiceJet issued a statement expressing regret for the inconvenience caused and offered a full refund of the airfare to the affected passenger. The airline explained that an engineer successfully opened the lavatory door upon arrival, providing immediate medical support to the trapped passenger.
The note from the crew to the passenger locked on #Spicejet flight. #Avgeek #Aviation pic.twitter.com/pPrvXq8mJm
— Aman Gulati 🇮🇳 (@iam_amangulati) January 17, 2024
The incident comes at a time when airline service providers have faced increased scrutiny for operational challenges. Winter conditions in North India have led to significant flight delays, sparking complaints from passengers about poor communication and inadequate assistance from airlines. This event adds to a series of recent airline-related controversies, including a passenger attacking a pilot on an IndiGo flight and an extended 17-hour delay on an Air India flight.