Dhaka: Over 200 passengers on a Singapore-bound Air India flight faced significant inconvenience at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after a technical issue delayed departure by nearly 6 hours.

Flight AI2380, scheduled to depart around 11:00 PM on Wednesday (Sep 10) and operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was grounded due to a malfunction in the aircraft’s air conditioning and electrical systems.

Passengers were seated onboard for nearly two hours before being deplaned, with many reporting uncomfortably high cabin temperatures. Video clips shared on social media showed passengers fanning themselves with newspapers and magazines to cope with the heat.

A journalist who was among the passengers confirmed the uncomfortable conditions.

In a statement issued on Thursday (Sep 11), Air India acknowledged the delay and cited a “cabin cooling issue on ground prior to departure.” The airline said passengers were regularly updated and provided with refreshments and meals during the extended wait at the terminal.

“The flight departed at 05:36 AM IST after a change of aircraft. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests,” the airline said.

-B