Stranded for Hours on Dubai Tarmac!

More Than 5 Hours Without Water or Food on Dubai Tarmac – Passengers Lament Air India Express Flight

Dubai – Air India Express is facing severe criticism after passengers were stranded on a plane in the Dubai heat for more than five hours without food, water, or adequate air conditioning. The incident affected the June 13 departure of the Dubai–Jaipur flight (IX-196), which was scheduled to take off at 7:25 PM.

Due to a technical fault, the flight could not depart; however, despite this, more than 150 passengers were not allowed back into the terminal and remained on the grounded aircraft. Reports indicate that the air conditioning was not functioning properly, rendering the cabin's temperature unbearable while passengers could neither access food nor drinking water.

Footage shared by a passenger clearly shows people drenched in sweat, trying to cool themselves with safety cards. Many received no response from the crew despite requests for help, exacerbating the tension. The flight eventually took off at 12:44 AM, over five hours late, and landed in Jaipur at 2:44 AM on June 14.

The airline issued a statement denying a technical fault, attributing the delay to air traffic congestion and airspace closures, and claimed that the cabin's air conditioning system was operational, although the cooling was not perceptible due to ground time and hot weather conditions.

However, complaints on social media painted a different picture. Passengers argued that the airline did not do enough to ensure their safety and comfort, especially in a city like Dubai, where summer temperatures can soar above 45°C.

The incident underscores the importance of transparency, swift communication, and empathetic treatment of passengers. While the airline blamed external factors, passengers felt more neglected due to human factors – such as lack of information and care.

This incident concerns not just comfort, but health and safety – since the combination of heat, lack of water, and stress poses serious health risks, especially for children and the elderly.

Investigations may follow the incident, and it's possible that the airline will face compensation claims. Some passengers are already demanding stricter regulations for such situations, particularly for airlines operating in countries with desert climates.

(Source based on passengers' accounts.)