In a distressing turn of events on January 26, passengers aboard Air India Flight AI909, en route from Mumbai to Dubai, faced a grueling five-hour delay due to technical issues with the aircraft. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 8:25 AM local time (IST) and land in Dubai at 10:15 AM local time (GST), was delayed after a malfunction with the air conditioning system aboard the Air India 787-8 aircraft.
As a result of the delay, passengers were left stranded in the cabin for several hours without functioning air conditioning, causing suffocating conditions and significant discomfort. The lack of ventilation contributed to an increasingly unbearable environment, with many passengers reporting rising temperatures and a general sense of unease.
Despite the challenging conditions, the flight eventually departed from Mumbai at 5:10 PM IST, seven hours after its original scheduled departure. The aircraft landed safely in Dubai at 6:29 PM GST, according to tracking data from FlightRadar24.
While no injuries were reported, passengers expressed frustration over the lack of communication and timely updates from the airline during the extended wait. The incident raises questions about the maintenance and readiness of aircraft, particularly in light of the severe conditions endured by passengers in this instance.
Air India has yet to release a statement addressing the causes of the delay or the discomfort faced by travelers.