Passengers Still Stranded, Luggage Missing Days After IndiGo Chaos; Government Offers No Clear Explanation

Mumbai: Four days after IndiGo’s operational meltdown, passengers across India are still struggling to retrieve their luggage, with some stranded far from home and others left in limbo at airports. Foreign travellers, in particular, have reported traumatic experiences, unable to locate their belongings or receive clear guidance on when they might be returned.

Despite government statements that IndiGo has delivered 3,000 pieces of baggage and processed 610 crore rupees in refunds, many affected passengers say the numbers do little to reflect the ground reality. 'I’ve been waiting for four days for my suitcase. There’s no one to tell me where it is or when it will arrive, said one passenger stranded in Kochi.

Foreign visitors described the ordeal as stressful and humiliating, noting that lost luggage left them without essential items and disrupted their travel plans. Several complained that communication from both the airline and authorities has been sparse, inconsistent, or entirely absent.

The civil aviation ministry has insisted that baggage separated due to cancellations or delays must be traced and returned within 48 hours. Yet, passengers say there is no proper explanation for the delays or the scale of the disruption, leaving them frustrated and anxious.

Aviation experts warn that the lack of transparency and delayed accountability not only harms passengers but also risks tarnishing India’s reputation as a reliable destination for international travel. With IndiGo flights gradually returning to near-normal levels, the backlog of stranded baggage and frustrated travellers remains a pressing issue that government assurances have so far failed to address.