MUSCAT – Passengers on Air India Express flight IX 235, operating from Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Muscat International Airport, faced an ordeal of nearly 12 hours after Air India Express flight IX 235 from Mumbai was delayed overnight triggering frustration, heated arguments, and hardship for travellers, which included sick and elderly.

The flight was originally scheduled to depart at 9.50 pm on February 14. What began as a brief half-hour delay during boarding soon escalated into a prolonged wait inside the aircraft for nearly three hours. Passengers were eventually asked to deplane and return to the terminal.

They were issued transit passes and directed to undergo another round of security screening. Many passengers, including senior citizens and those feeling unwell, described the process as physically exhausting. Several travellers who relied on wheelchair assistance alleged that they were denied the service throughout the disruption, compounding their distress.

Passengers were provided a modest dinner voucher, which many termed inadequate given the overnight delay. Travellers also complained of a lack of basic amenities such as drinking water during the long stopover, as well as the absence of proper rest arrangements despite spending the entire night at the airport.

Airline staff later announced that the flight would depart at 6.15 am on Sunday. However, at around 5 am, passengers were informed that the departure time had been pushed back again to 7.20 am, further aggravating tempers.

With Sunday, February 15 marking the start of the work week in Oman, many passengers said the delay would directly impact their professional commitments. Among them was a teacher who pointed out that if the flight departed at 7.20 am IST, it would land in Muscat only around 8.30 am local time – well past school reporting hours – thereby disrupting the day’s schedule.

Several other passengers said they were required to join duties on Sunday morning and feared disciplinary consequences or salary deductions due to their late arrival.

Frustration mounted through the night, with passengers citing poor communication from airline authorities regarding the nature of the technical issue and the expected departure time. The lack of clear updates, combined with fatigue and discomfort, led to heated arguments between passengers and airline staff manning the gate.