Air India Delhi–Singapore Flight Delayed 6 Hours After On-Ground Cabin Cooling Failure

New Delhi, India: Over 200 passengers on board Air India’s Singapore-bound flight from Delhi faced a gruelling night after a cabin cooling failure delayed their departure by nearly six hours, forcing them to deplane and wait in the terminal before a replacement aircraft was arranged.

The incident occurred on Flight AI2380, operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which was scheduled to depart Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 11:00 PM on Wednesday night. Shortly after boarding, the aircraft reportedly experienced faults with its air conditioning system and electrical power supply, resulting in rising cabin temperatures.

According to passengers, the situation quickly became uncomfortable as the cabin’s temperature climbed. Several travellers shared videos on social media showing people coping with cabin heat. Some posts described young children and elderly passengers struggling with the heat during the extended wait.

Passengers remained inside the aircraft for close to two hours before crew instructed them to disembark and return to the terminal. The decision was taken after engineers determined the issue could not be resolved on the spot.

In a statement, Air India acknowledged the disruption, citing a “cabin cooling issue on ground prior to departure” as the cause. The airline said that its ground teams provided regular updates, refreshments, and meals while travellers waited in the terminal. “We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers. The safety and well-being of everyone on board remain our top priority,” the airline said.

With the Dreamliner grounded for repairs, Air India deployed a replacement aircraft. The rescheduled flight finally took off at 5:36 AM IST on Thursday, nearly six hours behind schedule.