IndiGo Vadodara-Delhi Flight Suffers Blackout, Passengers Endure Heat And Darkness

Passengers on IndiGo flight 6E 657 faced an unusual ordeal when the aircraft lost cabin power before takeoff. The incident occurred at Vadodara Airport, where the plane was connected to an external ground power unit that suddenly failed, plunging the cabin into darkness and halting air conditioning.

What Happened

The flight, scheduled to depart at 8:40 pm, was preparing for takeoff when the GPU malfunctioned. With no lights, ventilation, or AC, passengers endured 30 minutes of discomfort in sweltering conditions, as Vadodara recorded temperatures above 43°C that evening. Engineers took 12–15 minutes to repair the fault and another 15 minutes to restore full cabin power. 

Passenger Experience

Passengers described the cabin as pitch dark and suffocating, with many fanning themselves using safety pamphlets. Social media videos showed flyers sweating and expressing frustration as crew members kept them onboard until the issue was resolved.

Airline Response

IndiGo issued a statement confirming the technical snag and expressed regret for the inconvenience. The airline emphasized that passengers were kept informed throughout the delay and that the issue was promptly resolved before the flight departed at 10:00 pm, nearly 80 minutes late. 

Safety Context

A ground power unit (GPU) supplies electricity to parked aircraft, powering lights, air conditioning, and avionics without using onboard engines. While the incident caused discomfort, officials confirmed there was no safety risk to passengers.

Incident Highlights

•⁠  ⁠Flight: IndiGo 6E 657, Vadodara to Delhi

•⁠  ⁠Date: May 17, 2026

•⁠  ⁠Passengers onboard: Around 160

•⁠  ⁠Cabin blackout lasted: ~30 minutes

•⁠  ⁠Cause: Ground power unit malfunction

•⁠  ⁠Engineers restored power in ~30 minutes

•⁠  ⁠Flight delayed by 1 hour 20 minutes, departed at 10:00 pm

•⁠  ⁠IndiGo confirmed technical snag, issued apology

Sources: WION, Mint, The Financial Express, India TV News, The Pioneer, The Hindu, The New Indian Express