Over 200 Passengers Stranded For Four Hours On Delhi-Pune Air India Express Flight; Boarding Resumes After Mohol’s Swift Intervention
Over 200 Passengers Stranded For Four Hours On Delhi-Pune Air India Express Flight; Boarding Resumes After Mohol’s Swift Intervention
Renuka Suryavanshi
Pune, July 26, 2025: More than 200 passengers traveling on Air India Express flight IX 1015 from Delhi to Pune were left stranded for nearly three hours late on Thursday night, July 25, after repeated delays and lack of proper communication from the airline’s staff. What began as a quiet wait eventually turned into frustration among passengers when they realized boarding had been halted without explanation.
As confusion escalated, one of the passengers sent a WhatsApp message along with a video to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, seeking immediate help. In a commendably swift response, Minister Mohol not only acknowledged the message within four minutes but also activated his office team. Within minutes, his Officer on Special Duty (OSD), the protocol officer, and the Air India Express manager contacted the airport authorities. Boarding procedures were resumed promptly, and the delayed flight was cleared for takeoff shortly afterward.
This incident highlights the proactive approach taken by Minister Mohol, who, despite the late hour and the ongoing Parliament session, took up the matter personally. His response came at 11:26 PM, just four minutes after receiving the alert from a Pune-based passenger. Many passengers appreciated his hands-on response, especially considering the situation could have worsened further.
Rahul Dambale, founder of the All India Airline Passenger Union, who was also among the affected travelers, told *Pune Pulse* that a formal petition will soon be submitted to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The demand will include seeking 50 percent compensation for passengers from airlines in such cases of delay and mismanagement. “Airlines must be held accountable for wasting passengers’ precious time. Such penalties are needed to teach them a lesson,” said Dambale.
The episode has sparked renewed calls for better accountability, communication, and management from airline companies. Passengers are also urging stricter timelines and consumer rights enforcement in the aviation sector. While the delay was eventually resolved, it took the personal involvement of a central minister for action to be taken—something that shouldn’t be necessary in routine airline operations.
