Chaos at Delhi Airport as Air India Flight Faces Overnight Delay; Passenger Assaults Staff Amid Confusion
New Delhi: A routine Air India flight from Delhi to Mumbai turned into a night of chaos and frustration as passengers were left stranded for over seven hours, eventually departing at 6:30 AM — well past its scheduled 11 PM departure time.
— Prakash (@Prakash20202021) April 19, 2025
Chaos at Delhi Airport!
A fight broke out between Air India employees & angry passengers over a several-hour delay of a Delhi-Mumbai flight.
Frustrated passengers confronted ground staff, leading to heated arguments and scuffles.More details awaited.#AirIndia pic.twitter.com/W1ZrsxI5IV
The extended delay, coupled with poor communication from airline staff, led to growing unrest among passengers. The situation worsened when boarding began around 12:50 AM, only to be abruptly stopped. A sudden announcement informed passengers that the flight would be postponed further until morning. The boarding gate was then locked, leaving travelers scattered and confused across the terminal.
Tensions ran high through the night, culminating in a physical altercation where a passenger reportedly assaulted an Air India ground staff member. The passenger later defended his actions, saying, “Mere baap ki tabiyat kharab hai (My father’s health is not good). Please understand our problems.”
While many condemned the violence, others on social media voiced outrage at Air India’s handling of the situation. Passengers claimed there was minimal communication throughout the night, and that only after the confrontation was it revealed that a shortage of pilots was the underlying cause of the delay. Some also alleged that a staff member laughed during the confusion, further aggravating the situation.
Messages regarding refunds and compensation were reportedly sent to some affected travelers around 3 AM, but for many, the lack of transparency and empathy added to the distress.
The flight finally landed in Mumbai at 8:30 AM, ending a night marked by exhaustion, anger, and renewed scrutiny of customer service standards in Indian aviation. As of now, Air India has yet to issue a detailed statement explaining the delay.
