Man shares frustrating flight experience; passengers seen sweating, fanning themselves

In an era where flyers are increasingly vocal about their travel experiences, an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Bhubaneswar is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. A LinkedIn post by a passenger, describing the journey as “unbearable” due to a broken air conditioning system, has raised serious concerns and put the airline's service under scrutiny.

The post, accompanied by photos of visibly uncomfortable passengers, quickly went viral, with many others sharing similar complaints about the lack of comfort and the airline’s indifference. While Air India Express responded, the incident has once again sparked concerns about the airline’s preparedness and its commitment to basic passenger care on domestic flights.

“Unbearably hot conditions while flying”: Passenger’s account draws attention
Tusharkant Rout , a professional based in Gurugram , was onboard flight IX-1128 from Delhi to Bhubaneswar when he experienced what he later described as a “critical” situation. In his LinkedIn post, Rout wrote, “The AC is not working, and passengers are facing unbearably hot conditions while flying. One of the passengers’ health became very serious.”


According to Rout, the issue persisted for nearly two hours during the flight. The discomfort, he said, was evident across the cabin, with some passengers appearing physically affected by the heat. He also shared photos showing people wiping sweat, fanning themselves, and struggling to remain seated calmly.

Passengers demand accountability
Rout mentioned that passengers repeatedly flagged the issue during the journey but were left disappointed by the lack of resolution. In his post, he appealed to the airline and authorities to act on such incidents with urgency and seriousness.

“Please take this matter seriously so that such situations don’t happen again in the future,” he added.

The post not only highlighted his own experience but served as a collective voice for several others on board who, according to him, were equally troubled by the rising temperatures inside the aircraft.

Airline responds with explanation and apology
Following the viral nature of the post, Air India Express responded, acknowledging the discomfort caused. In its official reply, the airline explained that air conditioning might feel ineffective during boarding and taxiing due to open doors and limited power availability.


“We’re sorry for the delay and any discomfort you experienced. We appreciate your feedback and remain committed to improving our services,” the airline wrote, while assuring passengers that their input was being taken seriously.

However, there was no direct clarification on why the cooling system remained ineffective mid-air when full engine power is typically available.

Flyers share similar concerns online
Rout’s post led others to share their own experiences. Many people commented on LinkedIn, questioning regular pre-flight checks and pointing out service issues.

“Was the inspection not done before take-off, or was the checklist filled randomly?” one user asked.

Another person recalled a recent flight where, despite lodging a complaint about disruptive passengers, the crew failed to act. “My recent flight was terrible. Passengers behind me were creating a nuisance, and when I complained, the staff ignored it. Even the food I pre-booked was served cold.”

A similar experience was shared by another user: “This has happened to me too on a recent flight from Kolkata to Port Blair. If these issues persist, they risk losing loyal customers.”