41.1°C and no AC: Viral video shows Air India passengers fanning themselves with safety cards

Passengers aboard Air India flight AI2521 from Delhi to Patna faced extreme discomfort on Sunday, May 18, when the aircraft's air conditioning system malfunctioned, leaving them in stifling conditions for over an hour.

The incident gained widespread attention after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Rishi Mishra shared a video on social media, highlighting the ordeal. In the footage, Mishra is visibly sweating and states, "We are inside the plane for an hour without air-conditioning. You can see how much we are sweating. Children are affected, many people are affected, but there is no one to look into this matter."

The temperature in Delhi that day soared to 41.1°C, exacerbating the situation inside the stationary aircraft. Passengers resorted to using safety cards and magazines as makeshift fans to cope with the heat.

Dr. Bipin Jha, a surgeon and Mishra's brother-in-law, also took to social media, expressing concern over the incident. He stated that passengers were on board for three hours in the scorching heat, leading to Mishra feeling unwell. Air India responded, attributing the delay to "operational reasons" and assured that their team was providing real-time assistance.

The airline later arranged an alternative flight to transport the affected passengers to Patna. However, the incident has raised questions about Air India's maintenance protocols and passenger comfort measures, especially during peak summer conditions.

This event underscores the importance of ensuring all onboard systems are fully functional before boarding, particularly during extreme weather conditions, to guarantee passenger safety and comfort.