A Dubai-bound Air India flight faced a two-hour delay at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday after a technical issue left passengers sitting in the aircraft without power for over 90 minutes.
Flight AI 2205, scheduled to depart from Delhi at 5:00 PM IST, was grounded on the tarmac after a reported failure in its external electrical system. Passengers had already boarded when the cabin abruptly lost power, prompting confusion and concern among those on board.
According to airline officials, a technical team was immediately called in to diagnose and fix the issue. Despite their efforts, the delay stretched to nearly two hours, during which the passengers remained seated inside the aircraft in sweltering conditions, with no ventilation, lights, or entertainment systems available.
Tensions began to rise as passengers, left in the dark both literally and figuratively, voiced their frustration. Several chose to disembark, further complicating the situation. This unexpected movement forced the cabin crew to conduct an additional round of hand baggage checks, causing further delays.
“The atmosphere was tense,” said a passenger on board who requested anonymity. “We were stuck in our seats without any idea of when we’d be taking off. Some people started demanding to get off the plane.”
In the absence of regular power, it fell to the cabin crew to manage the situation. They distributed water and snacks in an attempt to keep passengers calm. Despite their efforts, some travellers expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of timely communication from airline authorities.
The flight’s captain eventually addressed passengers, confirming that the external power unit had failed again, pushing the takeoff back even further. As of the latest updates, the aircraft had not yet departed.
Air India has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident or confirm whether passengers will be compensated for the inconvenience.
This latest disruption adds to growing concerns over operational efficiency and technical reliability in India’s aviation sector, particularly amid rising demand for international travel from the capital.
