Bengaluru-bound passengers stranded for over 18 hours as Air India Express flight faces repeated tech failures in Saudi Arabia

BENGALURU: Over 150 Bengaluru-bound passengers were stranded at King FahadInternational Airport, Dammam for over 24 hours, after their Air India Express Flight IX484 slated to leave at 8.30 PM on April 25, 2025, was delayed due to repeated "technical issues".
According to the affected passengers, after an overnight delay, airline officials informed them the technical problems were "temporarily fixed" and instructed them to board at 1:30 PM (KSA time) on April 26. However, the situation deteriorated further when the aircraft taxied to the runway, only to halt abruptly, with passengers once again left without clear communication or resolution.

While the aircraft finally took off around midnight, several passengers took to social media to provide live updates, expressing grave concerns over safety standards, poor crisis management, and a lack of transparency by the airline’s ground staff. "This is not just mismanagement; it is sheer negligence. Passenger lives are being put at serious risk," said one distressed traveller.

Advocate PA Hameed Padubidri, a noted pro-bono lawyer and social worker who has been residing in Saudi Arabia for over two decades, commented: "I have been in continuous contact with the stranded passengers and am coordinating with the authorities concerned to address this alarming pattern of delays and mismanagement by Air India Express. Passenger rights and safety must be treated with utmost seriousness."
Speaking to TOI, Hameed said, "This marks the third major disruption involving Air India Express flights within a month, raising serious questions about the airline’s operational reliability, aircraft maintenance practices, and overall crisis preparedness."
"If an aircraft continues to suffer 'technical issues,' it indicates systemic negligence. Operating such flights puts the lives of passengers at unacceptable risk. It is deeply shocking and unacceptable," he added.
Frustrated passengers also pointed out that had this incident involved other Gulf carriers, passengers would have been promptly provided with food, hotel accommodation, and alternative flight arrangements. "This exposes a glaring gap in passenger care and service standards," one stranded traveller noted.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with urgent calls for immediate investigation and action by India’s aviation authorities. Hameed has appealed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to take action against these recurring failures by Air India Express.
“One of our flights from Dammam to Bengaluru departed with a delay due to a technical snag. The airline extended full support to guests, arranging hotel accommodation, refreshments, and offering complimentary rescheduling or cancellations with a full refund. We regret the inconvenience caused and reiterate that the safety of our guests and crew remains our highest priority,” said Air India Express spokesperson