On October 8, 2025, SpiceJet flight SG-12 from Dubai to New Delhi landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 3 shortly after 5:00 PM IST. The flight, carrying 148 passengers, had departed from Dubai around 12:00 PM local time (1:30 PM IST) after a brief delay. However, as passengers gathered at the baggage carousel, it became clear something was amiss: not a single bag had made the journey with them. Passengers stood in confusion as the empty conveyor belt kept turning. Many initially thought it was a delay in luggage handling, but as minutes stretched into hours, the truth became evident. According to multiple reports, including from Khaleej Times not a single suitcase or duffel bag from the flight had been loaded onto the aircraft.
Passengers left without answers, told to fill forms
As the situation unfolded, passengers approached airline staff for answers. It was only then, according to those present, that they were informed about the possible reason: the aircraft was reportedly overweight. Staff claimed this necessitated the complete offloading of all checked-in luggage before departure from Dubai.Many passengers expressed disbelief at the airline’s explanation. Their frustration was compounded by what they described as a complete lack of communication, no announcement at the Dubai airport, no in-flight update, and no information provided upon arrival in Delhi. The sudden realisation that no luggage had arrived left many stunned and scrambling for answers.One of the frustrated passengers took to social media to voice his experience. Posting on X, user @tariq_iqbal shared a picture of the Baggage Irregularity Report (BIR) form that passengers were asked to fill out, and summed up the situation:“A @flyspicejet flight carrying 148 passengers from Dubai has arrived in New Delhi. The luggage of all of them was left behind in Dubai. The staff there did not inform about this. After landing, when the passengers asked for their bags, it was discovered that the bags were not even on the aircraft. Now, passengers have been asked to fill out forms. #SpiceJet”Passengers were reportedly asked to fill out Baggage Irregularity Reports (BIRs) and were informed that their belongings would be sent on the next available flight. In the meantime, many were left without access to clothing, medication, or other personal essentials. As of the time of reporting, there were no confirmed updates regarding compensation or assistance provided by the airline.
Passenger accounts raise concerns over airline protocols
Several affected travellers spoke to media outlets, sharing their frustration and confusion. “The luggage belt stayed empty. One by one, people realised nothing had arrived,” said Pratham Chaudhary, a passenger from Ghaziabad.Another passenger, Suhana Bisht from Noida, questioned the logistics:“If the bags were already weighed, how did they realise it was overweight after take-off?” She added that her luggage contained items worth over Dh5,000, heightening the financial stress caused by the mishap. Meanwhile, Deepak, a passenger who posted on social media, commented:“@SpiceJet set a new benchmark today. After delaying take-off by only one hour (yay!), they forgot passengers’ luggage at Dubai Airport.”As of October 9, no formal public statement has been issued by SpiceJet regarding the incident.
Similar incidents suggest a disturbing pattern
This was not an isolated case. Just a day earlier, on October 7, SpiceJet flight SG-57 from Jaipur to Dubai faced significant disruption. According to a report from Khaleej Times, the flight was scheduled to depart at 9:30 AM but was delayed by 14 hours, ultimately being cancelled due to “operational reasons.” Passengers reported that they were left at Jaipur airport without food or accommodation for the entire day. They described the lack of support as “completely unacceptable.” Additionally, a separate baggage-related incident involving SpiceJet occurred just a few months earlier. On June 27, 2025, flight SG 52/937 from Dubai to Pune arrived without the checked luggage of approximately 140 passengers. Passengers arriving at Pune Airport on that Thursday morning were not given clear responses by the airline and, by late night, their bags had still not arrived. The Dubai–Pune flight had taken off at approximately 2:00 AM—after a delay from its scheduled 12:05 AM departure—and landed in Pune around 6:40 AM. The missing baggage added further pressure on an already agitated group of travellers.
Growing passenger frustration , lingering questions
Repeated baggage mishandling incidents, coupled with extended delays and poor communication, have led to growing dissatisfaction among SpiceJet customers. Though airlines may occasionally face operational hurdles, the complete absence of luggage on international flights—more than once in the same airline’s recent history—raises serious questions about planning, weight management protocols, and customer service preparedness.
