Dammam – More than 150 passengers endured a harrowing experience at King Fahad International Airport in Dammam after Air India Express Flight IX484, destined for Bengaluru with a scheduled departure of 8:30 PM on April 25, 2025, faced indefinite delays due to persistent “technical issues.”
The situation unfolded as passengers, anticipating their journey, were met with an overnight delay. Hope was briefly restored when airline officials announced that the technical faults had been “temporarily fixed,” leading to a boarding call at approximately 1:30 PM (KSA time) on April 26. However, this optimism was short-lived. Passengers reported that the aircraft proceeded to taxi towards the runway only to come to an abrupt halt, leaving them once again stranded on the tarmac without clear updates or a resolution.
Frustration and anxiety mounted among the travelers, many of whom took to social media to voice serious concerns regarding the airline’s commitment to safety, its handling of the crisis, and the perceived lack of transparency from ground staff.
“This is beyond mere mismanagement; it smacks of sheer negligence. The safety of passengers is being gravely compromised,” an exasperated traveler conveyed.
Adding his voice to the growing chorus of concern, Dr. & Adv. P. A. Hameed Padubidri, a respected pro-bono lawyer and social worker with over two decades of residency in Saudi Arabia, has been actively engaging with the stranded passengers and coordinating with relevant authorities.
“I am in constant contact with the affected individuals and am working to bring this disturbing pattern of delays and mismanagement by Air India Express to the attention of the concerned bodies. The rights and safety of passengers must be paramount,” stated Dr. Hameed.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, Dr. Hameed emphasized, “This marks the third significant disruption involving Air India Express flights within the span of a single month. This raises profound questions about the airline’s operational reliability, the rigor of its aircraft maintenance protocols, and its preparedness to effectively manage crises.”
He further asserted, “The repeated occurrence of ‘technical issues’ on an aircraft strongly suggests systemic negligence. Continuing to operate such flights exposes passengers to unacceptable levels of risk. This situation is deeply shocking and entirely unacceptable.”
Passengers also drew a stark contrast with the service standards of other Gulf carriers, noting that similar incidents would typically be met with swift provisions for food, hotel accommodation, and alternative flight arrangements. “This incident starkly reveals a significant deficiency in passenger care and service standards,” one stranded individual pointed out.
The prolonged ordeal has ignited widespread indignation, prompting urgent demands for a thorough and immediate investigation by India’s aviation authorities.
Dr. P.A. Hameed has formally appealed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, urging them to take decisive action to address the recurring failures plaguing Air India Express.
As of the latest reports, the stranded passengers remain at Dammam Airport, awaiting definitive information and a clear resolution regarding their revised flight schedule.
