Viral Video: Air India Mumbai-Dubai Flight Passengers Endure 5-Hour Delay in Suffocating Cabin, Forcing Protests and Deboarding
Passengers on Air India’s Mumbai-Dubai flight (A1909) experienced a harrowing ordeal when a technical issue caused a delay of over five hours, leaving them stranded on board. A viral video shows agitated passengers shouting at cabin crew, with one individual banging the overhead bin in frustration.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 8:25 AM, faced delays until passengers were finally deboarded around 1:00 PM. According to reports by Mid-Day, the delay, combined with the lack of air conditioning, caused discomfort and suffocation among passengers, which included toddlers and senior citizens.
In the video, passengers can be heard demanding updates and requesting to be let off the aircraft. “We don’t trust you,” one passenger exclaimed, while another urged, “Open the door.” The captain, heard addressing the situation through the intercom, explained, “Airplane jack needs to be connected, please understand.”
A passenger on the flight, shared the video on Instagram, describing the ordeal as a “horrible experience.” He wrote, “The flight that was supposed to take off at 8:25 AM was delayed for five hours with passengers on board without air conditioning. Passengers started feeling suffocated, and relief was only provided after protests forced the crew to open the gates and allow deboarding.”
They also criticized the captain for not addressing the passengers directly. The captain did not come out of the cockpit to assuage the situation and only waited inside until passengers lost their patience.
The viral video has sparked widespread criticism of Air India on social media, with users sharing similar grievances. One user recounted a delayed flight with no food provided, while another mentioned luggage mismanagement on an international flight. “I sometimes feel bad for not choosing Air India, but incidents like these remind me why,” commented another user.
The incident has reignited concerns over the airline’s service quality, even under the management of the Tata Group, a name synonymous with accountability and reliability. Air India has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
