Pilot Refuses to Fly Due to Duty Limit, 179 Passengers Stranded Overnight in Varanasi

• IndiGo flight from Varanasi to Kolkata canceled after pilot refused to fly due to expired duty time.
• The flight, initially delayed by dense fog, led to crew's duty time exceeding the limit.
• 179 passengers were left stranded, causing commotion at Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
• Passengers, whose boarding was complete, were sent to a hotel for the night and flew the next day.
• The 'Flight Duty Time Limitation' (FDTL) rule prevents fatigued crew from flying for safety reasons.

Why It Matters: Pilot's adherence to FDTL rule strands 179 passengers overnight; highlights flight safety protocols.