Ex AirAsia CFO claims IndiGo flight left without him, airline issues clarification
Vijay Gopalan, former CFO of AirAsia India, has criticised IndiGo after missing his Tiruchirappalli to Chennai flight. The airline has shared a response as well.
Former AirAsia India CFO Vijay Gopalan has accused IndiGo of poor coordination after missing a flight while waiting in the airport lounge. The airline has countered the claim, stating that boarding announcements were made and that a temporary glitch in the flight display system led to the discrepancy.
Gopalan, in an Instagram post, said he had completed web check-in for his 2:55 pm IndiGo flight and reached Tiruchirappalli airport well ahead of time. With the departure time repeatedly changing on the flight information boards, he went to the lounge to work while tracking updates.
According to him, the flight was first delayed to 3:10 pm, then 3:15 pm, and eventually 3:25 pm, as reflected on the display screens. At around 3:05 pm, he received a call from airline staff asking why he had not reported at the gate. Gopalan said the board still did not show boarding and continued to indicate a delay, leaving him confused about how the flight could have progressed.
He later learnt that the aircraft had already departed. In videos posted on Instagram, Gopalan accused IndiGo’s ground staff of being “horribly rude and arrogant,” alleging they blamed him for missing the flight and suggested he had chosen to remain in the lounge for “good food” instead of boarding. The incident caused him to miss a professional conference in Chennai.
Watch the videos here:
Gopalan further claimed that when he escalated the matter, a senior airline official told him that frequent flyers are expected to know that boarding gates close 25 minutes before departure, irrespective of what the display boards show. He and a colleague were eventually rebooked on a later flight after paying a rescheduling fee.
IndiGo, however, offered a different explanation. In a statement, the airline said:
“Dear Mr. Gopalan, Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We truly understand how concerning it can be to miss a flight and the inconvenience this may have caused you. As checked, an interim issue impacted the Flight Information Display System, the management of which falls within the purview of the airport operator. Meanwhile, our team proceeded in accordance with the standard boarding protocol and made the requisite final boarding announcement,” they wrote.
“However, we understand that you were unable to reach the gate on time, following which our airport team assisted you with an alternate flight to ensure you could continue your journey. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you aboard again for a smoother and more pleasant experience,” the statement concluded.
The episode has since sparked online debate around airport communication failures and delay management.
Former AirAsia India CFO Vijay Gopalan has accused IndiGo of poor coordination after missing a flight while waiting in the airport lounge. The airline has countered the claim, stating that boarding announcements were made and that a temporary glitch in the flight display system led to the discrepancy.
Gopalan, in an Instagram post, said he had completed web check-in for his 2:55 pm IndiGo flight and reached Tiruchirappalli airport well ahead of time. With the departure time repeatedly changing on the flight information boards, he went to the lounge to work while tracking updates.
According to him, the flight was first delayed to 3:10 pm, then 3:15 pm, and eventually 3:25 pm, as reflected on the display screens. At around 3:05 pm, he received a call from airline staff asking why he had not reported at the gate. Gopalan said the board still did not show boarding and continued to indicate a delay, leaving him confused about how the flight could have progressed.
He later learnt that the aircraft had already departed. In videos posted on Instagram, Gopalan accused IndiGo’s ground staff of being “horribly rude and arrogant,” alleging they blamed him for missing the flight and suggested he had chosen to remain in the lounge for “good food” instead of boarding. The incident caused him to miss a professional conference in Chennai.
Watch the videos here:
Gopalan further claimed that when he escalated the matter, a senior airline official told him that frequent flyers are expected to know that boarding gates close 25 minutes before departure, irrespective of what the display boards show. He and a colleague were eventually rebooked on a later flight after paying a rescheduling fee.
IndiGo, however, offered a different explanation. In a statement, the airline said:
“Dear Mr. Gopalan, Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We truly understand how concerning it can be to miss a flight and the inconvenience this may have caused you. As checked, an interim issue impacted the Flight Information Display System, the management of which falls within the purview of the airport operator. Meanwhile, our team proceeded in accordance with the standard boarding protocol and made the requisite final boarding announcement,” they wrote.
“However, we understand that you were unable to reach the gate on time, following which our airport team assisted you with an alternate flight to ensure you could continue your journey. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you aboard again for a smoother and more pleasant experience,” the statement concluded.
The episode has since sparked online debate around airport communication failures and delay management.