Four hours in scorching heat on Air India Express flight; passengers endure ordeal on flight to Kerala

DUBAI: Passengers were stranded for hours after the cancellation of an Air India Express flight from the UAE to Kozhikode. The flight from Dubai to Kozhikode was cancelled at the last minute at 9 am on Friday. The technical glitch was discovered while preparations for takeoff were in progress after passengers were boarded.

Passengers who boarded the plane at 8.15 were sweating inside the plane due to the intense heat. Flight number IX 346 was cancelled just before takeoff. Passengers had to remain inside the plane without AC, even in the scorching heat.

Passengers said that they were not given accurate information about whether the flight would take off and that elderly women and children, among others, faced difficulties. Passengers were informed that the flight had been cancelled due to technical reasons at 12.15 pm. Then they were informed that they could be shifted to a hotel. Passengers were informed that they could travel on another flight departing at 3.30 am. However, some passengers requested that the authorities cancel their tickets and issue a refund.

Meanwhile, an Air India Express spokesperson told the media that the flight was cancelled due to a technical issue detected on the plane, and arrangements have been made for the passengers to be accommodated. He added that the AC was working and had to be switched off for some time while efforts were made to resolve the issue.