Stranded Newlyweds Join Their Own Reception Virtually After IndiGo Cancels Flight

Couple From Bengaluru Forced To Attend Wedding Reception By Video After Last-Minute Flight Cancellation

Medha Ksheerasagar and Sangama Das — both software engineers from Bengaluru — were left unable to attend their own wedding reception in Hubballi after their IndiGo flight from Bhubaneswar was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled at short notice.

The couple, who were married on Nov. 23, had planned a reception at Gujarat Bhavan on Dec. 3. According to reporting in The Times of India, their flight began showing delays from around 9 a.m. on Dec. 2 and was finally cancelled between about 6 and 8 p.m. the following evening.

"If IndiGo had informed us earlier, we could have made other arrangements," said the bride's father, Anil Kumar, describing how late notice left them no option but to participate online.

With relatives already arriving at the venue, the family set up a large screen at Gujarat Bhavan so the newlyweds could greet and interact with guests by video. Dressed for the occasion, the couple joined the reception remotely while family and friends watched in person.

This incident came amid a broader operational crisis at IndiGo. Reuters reported that the 20-year-old carrier cancelled 385 flights on Dec. 6 and more than 1,000 the day before, leaving many passengers stranded across India.

IndiGo has attributed the disruption to a combination of weather, technical glitches and new rules requiring longer rest periods for pilots and cabin crew. The Federation of Indian Pilots disputed that explanation, noting those rules were announced nearly two years ago and saying other airlines adjusted without similar disruption; the union called the cancellations the "direct consequence of IndiGo’s prolonged and unorthodox lean manpower strategy."

On Dec. 6 the airline said it had operated a little more than 700 flights connecting 113 destinations while cancelling a significant number of services, and that it was working to "reboot the network, systems and rosters". IndiGo promised refunds and accommodations for affected passengers and apologised as it sought to restore stability and customer trust.

This story underscores how sudden airline disruptions can ripple into personal milestones and force quick, improvised solutions — in this case, turning a long-awaited reception into a hybrid celebration with the bride and groom appearing on a big screen from afar.