Air India Express flight delayed 6 hours at Kolkata airport, passengers protest
Synopsis
Around 170 passengers holding boarding passes were left stranded for six hours at Kolkata's NSCBI Airport after an Air India Express technical fault grounded a Chennai-bound flight — with no clear updates and no alternative arrangements offered. The incident follows a separate Air India altitude-drop scare on 4 August, putting the spotlight back on airline safety communication at a critical moment for Indian aviation.
Key Takeaways
Air India Express flight to Chennai was delayed nearly six hours at NSCBI Airport, Kolkata on 12 August .
Around 170 passengers had already received boarding passes when the technical fault was detected.
Passengers alleged the airline failed to inform them promptly or provide adequate assistance during the wait.
The flight finally departed after 12 noon , against a scheduled departure of 6.30 am .
The incident follows Air India flight AI2379 's sudden 300-foot altitude drop on 4 August , which injured 24 people and hospitalised 17 .
An Air India Express flight bound for Chennai was grounded for nearly six hours at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday, 12 August, after a technical fault was detected shortly before departure, triggering a passenger protest on the airport premises. Around 170 passengers who had already received boarding passes were left waiting without adequate information or alternative arrangements.
What Happened at NSCBI Airport
The flight was originally scheduled to depart at 6.30 am. According to airport officials, a technical snag was identified before the aircraft could push back, forcing an indefinite hold. The departure was finally announced after 11.30 am, and the aircraft took off after 12 noon — roughly six hours behind schedule.
Air India Express did not specify the nature of the technical problem. Airport authorities acknowledged the delay but said arranging an alternative aircraft at short notice was not feasible.
Passengers Allege Poor Communication
Stranded travellers alleged that they were not informed about the fault in a timely manner, despite having cleared boarding. They also claimed that airline and airport staff failed to provide adequate assistance — such as food, rebooking options, or clear updates — during the extended wait.
The frustration eventually spilled into an open protest on the airport premises. Several passengers said the delay disrupted pre-planned schedules, including onward connections and professional commitments.
Safety Concerns Surface Again
The incident has renewed passenger concerns about aviation safety and airline communication protocols. Notably, this comes just days after a separate Air India flight — AI2379 — travelling from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden altitude loss of around 300 feet on 4 August.
That Airbus A320 was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members. The incident left 20 passengers and four cabin crew injured, with 17 people requiring hospitalisation. Both pilots underwent mandatory screening for psychoactive substances after the aircraft landed safely in Delhi.
Broader Pattern of Disruptions
Aviation regulators and passenger rights advocates have repeatedly flagged gaps in how Indian carriers communicate technical delays to travellers. Under Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines, airlines are required to inform passengers of delays and provide amenities beyond a certain threshold — obligations that passengers in Wednesday's incident allege were not met.
With air traffic at Indian airports continuing to grow, Wednesday's episode underscores the pressure on both carriers and airport infrastructure to handle technical disruptions without leaving passengers uninformed and unassisted. Regulatory scrutiny of Air India Express's handling of the delay is likely to follow.
Point of View
Incidents like this will keep repeating.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Air India Express Kolkata-Chennai flight delayed?
The flight was delayed by approximately six hours due to a technical fault detected shortly before its scheduled 6.30 am departure from NSCBI Airport in Kolkata on 12 August. Air India Express did not publicly specify the nature of the fault.
How many passengers were affected by the delay?
Around 170 passengers were affected. All had already been issued boarding passes before the technical snag was identified, leaving them stranded at the airport for several hours without clear updates.
What did passengers allege during the protest?
Passengers alleged that the airline failed to inform them about the technical problem in time and did not provide adequate assistance — such as food, rebooking options, or regular status updates — during the prolonged wait, prompting them to protest on the airport premises.
What is the Air India AI2379 incident referenced in this story?
Air India flight AI2379, travelling from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet in altitude on 4 August. The Airbus A320 carried 137 passengers and 8 crew members; 20 passengers and 4 cabin crew were injured, with 17 requiring hospitalisation. Both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive substance screening after landing safely.
What are airlines required to do during a technical delay in India?
Under DGCA guidelines, airlines are required to inform passengers of delays and provide amenities — such as meals and refreshments — beyond certain delay thresholds. Passengers in the Kolkata incident alleged these obligations were not met.
