Introduction: Postoperative pulmonary complications are a common cause of patient deterioration in both medical and surgical intensive care unit (ICUs). Sudden pulmonary collapse is a sentinel event in postoperative settings and can lead to respiratory compromise if not managed aggressively. It commonly occurs due to blood clots or mucus plugging of airways. In ICU settings, copious secretions, poor cough reflex, and poor respiratory efforts due to pain may all lead to the accumulation of mucus in the respiratory tract. Management of these plugs requires hydration, bronchodilation, mucolytic agents, and physiotherapy. Complete collapse leads to opacification of hemithorax, which may sometimes be confused with pleural effusion. Hence, all residents and ICU staff must be sensitized to avoid the inadvertent putting of a needle in such cases solely on the basis of a chest radiograph. Frequently, lung collapse warrants bronchoscopic intervention. Case description: Here, we report a case of sudden lung collapse in a young postoperative patient who had a sudden lung collapse and oxygenation impairment. Also, the mucus plug did not get extracted with routine bronchoscopy, and a cryoprobe was used. The extracted mucus plug en masse was a cast of bronchial tree. Conclusion: We wish to highlight the need for awareness of complications of endobronchial obstruction in ICUs and the use of cryoprobes in such scenarios.