As India grapples with the ongoing IndiGo crisis, actress and jewellery designer Neelam Kothari has raised a serious concern about her recent Etihad Airways journey. The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives star said in a tweet that she fell ill mid-air and did not receive any help from the cabin crew. The airline was quick to acknowledge her complaint, but her post has now sparked an online debate about the growing worries around passenger safety and airline accountability.
Neelam Kothari flags off air scare on Etihad flight
In a post on X, Neelam wrote that she was travelling from Toronto to Mumbai when her flight was delayed by more than nine hours. Tagging the airline, she said, “I am extremely disappointed with the treatment I received on my recent flight from Toronto to Mumbai. Not only was my flight delayed by over 9 hours, but I also fell seriously ill on board, fainting after a meal. Despite a fellow passenger helping me back to my seat, I received no follow-up care or even a single check-in from your crew.”
She also claimed that her attempts to contact Etihad’s customer care after landing went unanswered. “I’ve tried contacting your customer service with no response. Calling the experience “unacceptable,” she urged the airline to look into the matter at the earliest.
Dear @etihad, I am extremely disappointed with the treatment I received on my recent flight from Toronto to Mumbai. Not only was my flight delayed by over 9 hours, but I also fell seriously ill onboard, fainting after a meal. Despite a fellow passenger helping me back to my seat,…
— neelam kothari soni (@neelamkothari) December 8, 2025
Etihad responds
The airline replied publicly to her post on X, saying, “Hi Neelam. Sorry to hear about that! Please get in touch with us via DM to look into this for you and assist accordingly. Thanks! Rose.”
Neelam’s experience sparked discussions online. “You’re absolutely right. Once on board, the crew’s responsibility is to take care of passengers, especially in a medical situation,” one X user commented. Another chimed in, “I avoid Etihad because of their poor service both on the ground and in the air.” A third added, “They are like Lufthansa… full-service airline, but the most miserly when it comes to service and food.” The user also suggested filing a complaint through India’s aviation grievance platform.
India struggles with the Indigo crisis
Neelam’s post comes at a time when flyers across India are already frustrated with ongoing disruptions, especially the massive operational crisis faced by IndiGo, which has entered its eighth straight day. IndiGo failed to comply with the new FDTL rules, leading to major operational delays, and is now seeking more time from the DGCA to fix the issue — a process that could take weeks.
The airline has cancelled hundreds of flights across major cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. Thousands have been left stranded at airports with little to no updates on refunds or other announcements.
