Flight Gyaan – Episode 02: About flight delays, safety, and the unseen role of aviation staff.

 Namaskaar and welcome back to Flight Gyaan, where we go beyond the headlines and deeper into the hearts of those who fly for us!

              I’m your captain, Sandhya, and today we’re addressing something that frustrates almost every traveler around the world but protects lives behind the scenes: flight delays, safety, and the unseen role of aviation staff."

Well, delays aren’t made; they’re managed. And every minute spent on the ground is a vote for your safety in the sky.

"Ever wondered why your flight gets delayed?"

It could be bad weather, a last-minute technical snag, congestion at the airport, or simply waiting for air traffic control clearance.

But behind all those reasons… lies one powerful reason—safety, safety for everyone."

An aircraft doesn’t wait for your emotions. It waits for clearance—technical and operational.

But how many of us actually think about that before creating a scene, shouting at staff, or worse, sometimes even slapping them?

Yes, it’s their job to assist you. But I think we all should agree on one thing: that getting humiliated, slapped, or maybe abused by others leaves scars on each one of us, especially if it happens at our jobs, and the next day, you become a headline, carrying the emotional toll of every outburst.

Imagine being blamed for something beyond your control, day after day. Well, that’s their reality."

They are definitely frontrunners of the show, and I agree they should have some answers to the questions, but we also have a responsibility to maintain basic decency at airports and especially with the staff.

How long will it take? I have a connecting flight, and so on. Too many questions, and there's an answer to all, but understand, the aircraft still won’t take off—and here’s why. Because an aircraft is a complex machine. If even a single system isn’t functioning correctly, and it doesn’t qualify under MEL or MMEL (Minimum Equipment List), we cannot take off.

And I’m sure you wouldn’t want to fly in a machine that isn’t 100% safe, right?" But do we actually have time to wait for our safety, or are we all just impatient to take off somehow or any which way?

A recent tragic crash reminded us all how fragile life is at 35,000 feet.

It taught us that getting there on time means nothing if we don’t get there alive.
It humbled us that flying isn’t just about reaching on time—it’s about reaching safely.

And safety takes time.

So the next time you’re waiting at the gate… take a deep breath.
That delay you're angry about? It might just be the reason you get to hug your family again.

Now let’s talk about the real heroes—the ground staff, cabin crew, and pilots.

Ground staff are often the first ones to face angry passengers. Since we are all trained differently and cannot understand everything fully and properly, especially those technical terms. To avoid creating panic or fear, they always say it's a technical delay. And as we have heard this so many times, we often get angry or frustrated because of it. But we have to understand that yelling, abusing, or creating a scene won’t change outcomes, because ground staff don’t hold decision-making authority. Every single update they give you is passed down from operational control. But that doesn’t mean they don’t care.

To protect themselves and everyone in such situations where things get out of control, they have the right to mark someone as a disruptive passenger, but they don’t. What is a disruptive passenger? Let's understand it: Disruptive Passenger: Someone at the airport who behaves aggressively, argues with staff, refuses to follow instructions, or creates a scene that delays or affects flight operations and the safety of others.

But why don't they declare them as disruptive passengers?

Because they choose empathy. But even empathy has a limit. "Let’s meet them halfway—with kindness."

Next, let’s shift our focus to the cabin crew—the in-flight guardians you see every time you fly.

Contrary to popular belief, cabin crew are not just hospitality staff; they are licensed safety professionals trained under DGCA and international standards. Each one is certified to manage in-flight medical emergencies, firefighting, emergency evacuations, and decompression scenarios. They undergo rigorous recurrent training every year because their primary role onboard is your safety, not just service."

To understand more deeply, let's do some calculations: if your flight is at 10 am and you're flying from Delhi to Bombay, the crew has to report at 9 or maybe 8:30 am, depending on the airline's rules. Now, crew cabs are usually scheduled to reach their homes around 7:30 AM, and to get ready, it'll take approximately 1 hour, so the crew has to get up by 6 or 6:30 to arrive on time.

Mostly, cabin crew in India operate 3-4 sectors. Now, in those 3-4 sectors, even if the flight gets delayed by 4 or 5 hours, they can still finish their whole duty, and no extension would be required on their part. But their duty doesn't end here. They have post-flight duties like filling out reports, paying money at the bank, or arranging transport, all before they can rest, which often adds 1 to 2 hours of off-aircraft responsibilities. 

They often fly back-to-back, especially from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and a few more bases. They are often tired, missing their families, sometimes missing their own birthdays and anniversaries, as the company didn't accept the leave due to crew shortage, not feasible at the moment, and many more reasons. Yet they show up for their passion to fly.

So, when you board the aircraft and find yourself harassing, abusing, or taunting the crew, please understand you're disturbing an already disturbed crew who has to operate 2 more sectors with full responsibility, which could compromise their focus, even unintentionally. We know it’s tempting to pull out your phone and go viral, but when you do that to a tired, overworked crew still treating you with dignity… the guilt of being harsh after knowing reality might last longer than the flight. And yes, your actions can trigger a full internal report for that crew, often over nothing more than a lack of empathy.”

Instead of pulling out your phone to record, pull out some compassion instead.

Let's acknowledge we are all human beings doing our jobs.

 It is very important to be kind, since more than anyone, it's the crew who are desperately waiting for the aircraft to take off.

That smile you see when you board the aircraft:  it hides fatigue, discipline, and responsibility.

Behind every meal served is a trained emergency responder.

Now, the last and most important one: the pilots?

When it comes to flight operations, the role of a pilot goes far beyond just flying the aircraft, it demands precision, decision-making under pressure, and unwavering alertness. Now, during delays, flight crew duty hours often get extended. But aviation operates under strict Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).

Beyond a certain threshold, continuing duty is not only unsafe, it's legally prohibited.

So, when delays stretch beyond allowed hours, airlines must arrange for a new operating crew, often causing additional delays."

Why? Because flying with a fatigued pilot is a risk no airline or regulator will take.

A pilot’s mental clarity is non-negotiable; they are the command and control centre of the flight.

And just like a fatigued brain can’t make safe decisions, a fatigued cockpit can’t ensure a safe flight.

If they’re exhausted, it’s not just uncomfortable; it’s illegal for them to fly.

When you read the headlines that a pilot “refused to operate or refused the duty,” what's often missed is the reason behind it. It’s the most responsible thing they do: for everyone's safety."

Every single crew member onboard is trained to handle fires, turbulence, medical emergencies, and evacuations.

They aren’t just flying with you—they’re flying for you.

Every delay is a safety decision. And every crew member is a quiet warrior in the sky.

 A gentle thank you goes a long way—to the ground staff managing chaos, the cabin crew ensuring your comfort, the engineers maintaining safety, and the pilots steering you through the skies. Behind every smooth journey is a team that gives it their all—often unseen, but always essential.

And at last, the next time your flight is delayed and you're waiting at the airport for more information, take a deep breath.

You’re not being punished—you’re being protected.

Because every delay tells one story: your life mattered more than your schedule.

That’s all for today’s Flight Gyaan!

Next Monday, I’ll be back with more aviation facts—not to scare you, but to prepare you.

Until then, fly smart, fly safe.

And yes—don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe.

This is your Captain Sandhya, signing off!"