Air India Flight Delayed By 20 Hours At Delhi Airport, People Fainted With No AC, Claim Passengers

The flight bound for San Francisco, initially scheduled for departure yesterday afternoon, is now set to take off at 11 am today, following a delay exceeding 20 hours.

A passenger of an Air India flight alleged some people fainted inside the aircraft, which had no air-conditioning, after a delay of over eight hours on Thursday. The flight bound for San Francisco, initially scheduled for departure yesterday afternoon, is now set to take off at 11 am today, following a delay exceeding 20 hours. Frustrated passengers took to platform ‘X’ to voice their discontent and dissatisfaction regarding the situation at the airport. Journalist Shweta Punj further highlighted the passengers’ distress on social media, emphasizing that they were asked to board the AI183 New Delhi-San Francisco flight without adequate air-conditioning. “The airline deplaned the passengers after some fliers fainted on the flight at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.”

If there is a privatisation story that has failed it is @airindia @DGCAIndia AI 183 flight has been delayed for over 8 hours , passengers were made to board the plane without air conditioning, and then deplaned after some people fainted in the flight.This is inhuman! @JM_Scindia pic.twitter.com/86KpaOAbgb

— Shweta Punj (@shwwetapunj) May 30, 2024

The Air India X handle responded to her: “Dear Ms. Punj, we truly regret to note the disruptions. Please be rest assured that our team is actively working to address the delay and appreciate your ongoing support and understanding. We are also alerting our team to provide necessary assistance to the passengers.”

On Thursday, Abhishek Sharma, a passenger shared his experience. “@airindia please let mine and the numerous other parents stranded at the boarding area go home! AI 183 is over 8 hrs late. People were made to board the plane and sit without ac. Then deplaned and not allowed to enter the terminal because immigration was done.”

@airindia please let mine and the numerous other parents stranded at the boarding area go home!

AI 183 is over 8 hrs late. People were made to board the plane and sit without ac. Then deplaned and not allowed to enter the terminal because immigration was done#inhuman pic.twitter.com/0XdDBAovBK

— Abhishek Sharma (@39Abhishek) May 30, 2024

Sharma in another post provided an update to the situation. He in a post on X replied that ‘@airindiatook passengers to a hotel. Room was provided by 2am. A new boarding pass was provided with departure time of 11am. Parents are back at the airport and it seems even this flight is cancelled. No one from @airindiais helping !”

Visuals posted by many other passengers show people including children sitting on the floor, and some have taken off their shoes. They appear exhausted.

Passengers of a San Francisco-bound Air India flight from Mumbai faced a similar ordeal recently. The Boeing 777 aircraft, set to depart at 1600 hours, encountered multiple setbacks. Initially delayed due to a technical issue, some passengers disembarked, leading to further delays. Subsequently, another passenger fell ill, prolonging the wait inside the plane to over five hours.