IndiGo pilot’s emotional apology during delays wins hearts online

An IndiGo pilot, Captain Pradeep Krishnan, has won hearts online after a video of his heartfelt apology to passengers amid nationwide flight cancelations and delays surfaced on social media. At a time when frustrations were running high across terminals, his calm tone and sincerity stood out.

In the now-viral clip posted on Instagram, Krishnan is seen standing at the front of the cabin, addressing passengers in Tamil: “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused, and we will keep you all updated whenever we can. Thank you.” Passengers responded with applause — a gesture that resonated widely, with comments praising his humility.

Sharing the video, Krishnan wrote: “I am sorry. I completely get how tough it is when a flight causes you to miss something important… We’re not on strike. As pilots, we’re trying our best, and we want to go home too.”

He acknowledged the chaos of the past few days, adding that his heart went out to travellers who were “stuck or stranded,” and urged people to be kind to ground staff working under immense pressure. “Please be kind. They’re trying their best to get you home,” he wrote.

The gesture struck a chord during a turbulent week for India’s aviation sector, with IndiGo entering its seventh consecutive day of massive disruptions. The airline cancelled more than 150 flights on December 8, after scrapping over 650 the previous day as new pilot rest rules triggered a cockpit crew shortage and snowballed into nationwide operational breakdown.

Social media users have applauded Krishnan’s message as a rare moment of calm, dignity and humanity in a crisis. One commenter wrote: “Glad you were there on that flight. Thank you for your support.” Another added: “No one wants times like these — hoping things settle soon for passengers and staff alike.”