Spice Sauna…

I've never seen a riot. Today I came very close. We left the gate aboard our busses for our Spice Jet flight from Chennai to Delhi at about 8 PM. It was clear from the start that this was not going to go well. While we waited on the tarmac, the incessant drone of the auxiliary a/c unit ebbed and flowed. As we boarded the plane, we were immediately assaulters by hot, humid, stale air. The aux a/c was not functioning at all, and the temperature was easily 100°. As more passengers filed in, the temperature continued to rise. Soon sweat was dripping from our faces, and down our entire bodies. The stale air was suffocating. Then it started to get interesting. A reassuring voice told ups "We'll be able to start our engines and turn on the a/c as soon as all passengers arrive and are seated – 10 to 15 minutes - 20 minutes at the most." At first a few, and then many passengers got up to stand by the open door. Before we knew it, most of the passengers had left the airplane to stand on the tarmac – over the objections of the flight crew. When, after 40 minutes, we finally we told to prepare for takeoff, the passengers grudgingly reclaimed their seats. But when the plane did not immediately depart, a mob once again rose to their feet to voice their extreme displeasure. Some wanted the airplane doors reopened so they could go back outside. Others demanded to enter the cockpit to talk with the pilot. It was starting to get ugly. The plane was taxiing while passengers were still blocking the aisle and demanding that the doors be reopened. I thought a lot about how crowds reacted in similar situations I've been in. I felt as if this group was very quick to complain, and was quite unrealistic in their expectations about what could be done. I had felt that Indians would be more stoic and patient. Instead, they appeared to be aggressive and determined to be treated well. Hmmm…