IndiGo cancels over 1,000 flights on Friday; expects situation to normalise by Dec 10-15: CEO
New Delhi (PTI): On a day when IndiGo cancelled more than 1,000 flights, the airline's CEO Pieter Elbers on Friday said the situation is anticipated to normalise between December 10-15.
Elbers, in a video message, apologised for the major inconvenience caused to the passengers due to the disruptions.
"Regrettably, earlier measures of the last few days have proven not to be enough. So we decided today for a reboot of all our systems and schedules, resulting in the highest number of cancellations so far, but imperative for progressive improvements starting tomorrow onwards.
"With these actions, we expect tomorrow to have cancellations below 1,000. The support of DGCA, in providing specific FDTL implementation relief, is of great help," Elbers said.
Aviation regulator DGCA has kept in abeyance the implementation of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, and gaps in planning the second phase implementation of these norms are one of the key factors for the current flight disruptions.
IndiGo is the country's largest airline and generally operates around 2,300 flights daily.
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Viral claim of Indian arrested for spying in Bahrain found to be false
New Delhi: A viral claim on social media alleging that an Indian national named Nitin Mohan was arrested in Bahrain for spying for Israel has been found to be false, with the image circulating online likely generated or altered using artificial intelligence.
The photo is being circulated widely on social media platforms, including a Pakistani X account currently withheld in India, shared an image purportedly showing, “Authorities in Bahrain have arrested an Indian national, Nitin Mohan, a telecommunications engineer, on allegations of espionage. According to reports, he was collecting sensitive geospatial data, photos, and videos of key locations and allegedly passing them to Israel’s intelligence agency.”
A fact-check by India Today revealed that the photo is likely AI-generated or AI-edited. We also did not find any report of the Bahrain government arresting an Indian national named Nitin Mohan.
However, a fact check found no credible evidence supporting the claim. Visual examination of the viral image showed several inconsistencies indicating that it was likely AI-generated or edited. The reflections in both eyes do not align. The fingers on one hand are blurred and appear to merge into the fist. The links between the handcuffs also look flimsy.
Further verification found no official reports of an Indian national named Nitin Mohan being arrested in Bahrain.
A press release issued on March 9 by Bahrain’s Police Media Centre stating that they had arrested six Asians for filming and sharing videos of Iranian aggression and glorifying hostile acts that could disturb security and public order.
According to the release, five of the arrested individuals were Pakistani nationals, Afzal Khan, Muhammad Muaz Akbar, Ahmad Mumtaz, Arsalan Sajid and Abdul Rahman Abdul Sattar, and one was a Bangladeshi national, Muhammad Israfil Mir. Their photographs also did not match the viral image circulating online.
Media reports from Gulf Daily News and Arab Times confirmed that Bahrain’s Interior Ministry arrested six individuals of Asian nationalities for recording and sharing videos glorifying Iranian aggression.
Additionally, India’s Ministry of External Affairs Fact Check wing stated on March 10 that the claim about an Indian national being arrested in Bahrain was “false and baseless.”
Authorities have cautioned that the viral image and accompanying claim are misleading, confirming that the claim is false and part of misinformation circulating online.
