A Kanpur-to-Delhi IndiGo flight was delayed by approximately three hours after passengers aboard spotted a rat inside the cabin just before takeoff. Authorities evacuated all 140 travellers and conducted a thorough search before clearing the aircraft for departure.
The flight had been scheduled to leave Kanpur at 2:55 pm and land in Delhi by 4:10 pm. However, after someone reported seeing a rat moving around inside the cabin, the airline staff ordered the cabin crew and ground personnel to halt boarding procedures.
Passengers were asked to disembark and wait in the airport lounge while a team of airline and airport staff searched the aircraft. The search for the rodent reportedly lasted about one and a half hours. The delay pushed the actual departure time to 6:03 pm.
Kanpur Airport officials confirmed the incident and emphasized that the delay was enforced as a safety and hygiene precaution. The rat was eventually located and removed, following which passengers were allowed to reboard the flight. The aircraft landed in Delhi around 7:16 pm.
While the delay caused inconvenience, there were no reports of panic or injury. Airline and airport authorities have reportedly apologised for the disruption and assured that such incidents are rare.
The incident has raised questions about preflight inspections and cleanliness standards inside aircraft cabins. Some passengers expressed frustration at the prolonged delay, but said they appreciated that safety was prioritized.