Dubai-Jaipur flight ordeal without airconditioning; Air India Express shed light on what happened

NEW DELHI: Passengers of the Air India Express flight IX 196 flying from Dubai to Rajasthan's Jaipur had complained that they were made to sit inside the aircraft without air-conditioning for five hours amid the heat in Dubai airport.

Some complained that the health of some elderly people was deteriorating due to the heat inside the cabin and that passengers were not provided with enough water. Passengers demanded that the airline management and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take responsibility.

An Air India Express spokesperson admitted that flights from cities in the UAE were delayed due to air traffic control congestion following the closure of some airspace.

“Some of our flights from cities in the UAE are experiencing delays post-boarding due to ATC congestion following the closure of certain airspaces.

We are aware of a video on social media in which a guest has commented on the cabin temperature while the aircraft was on ground for over an hour prior to departure. The air conditioning system was functioning normally; however, when an aircraft remains on ground with its doors open for an extended period, especially in hot weather conditions like those in Dubai, the cooling effect may not feel optimal until after take-off.

The cabin crew, as per procedure, secured the cabin for departure and attended to guest requests, including call bells, once the flight was airborne.

We regret the inconvenience caused due to factors beyond our control and sincerely appreciate the understanding of our guests.”

– An Air India Express Spokesperson