Mon Jan 27 17:06:10 IST 2025: ## Passengers Trapped on Air India Flight for 5 Hours Without Air Conditioning
**Mumbai, India** – A viral Instagram video showing passengers on an Air India flight from Mumbai to Dubai enduring a five-hour delay without functioning air conditioning has sparked outrage and calls for stricter aviation regulations. The video, which has garnered over 28 million views, depicts a crowded cabin with passengers visibly distressed, some shouting and banging overhead bins in frustration.
According to the Instagram post by user Tejasvi Anandkumar Soni, the flight, scheduled to depart at 8:25 AM, was delayed for five hours while passengers, including toddlers and senior citizens, were trapped inside the aircraft with a non-functional air conditioning system. Passengers reported feeling suffocated and claimed the crew offered no relief until they forced the gates to be opened and disembarked.
The post further alleges that the captain remained in the cockpit throughout the ordeal, failing to address the increasingly agitated passengers until they lost their composure after five hours of patiently waiting.
The video shows passengers crowding the front of the cabin, with one man shouting, “We don’t trust you. We don’t want to put our lives at stake. Please leave us.” A flight attendant’s voice is heard over the intercom stating that the aerobridge needed to be connected before passengers could disembark.
Soni’s post concludes with a call for the aviation ministry to take swift and decisive action against such incidents, questioning why passengers consistently bear the brunt of these situations.
While some online commenters expressed sympathy and anger, others defended the airline staff, explaining that airport procedures and security clearances can hinder swift disembarkation.
NDTV has contacted Air India for comment but has yet to receive a response. This incident follows recent allegations of mistreatment of passengers by Air India, highlighting ongoing concerns about passenger safety and welfare. The incident underscores the need for improved protocols and communication to handle flight delays and ensure passenger comfort and safety.
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