Pune-Jaipur Flight Canceled After Passengers Suffocate In Scorching Heat Without AC, Flyers Use Carry Bags As Fans, Fume, 'What Are We Paying For?' WATCH VIDEO

A woman flyer fell ill on Tuesday evening on an Air India Express flight from Pune to Jaipur due to an alleged malfunction in the air conditioning system. The takeoff of the plane was canceled after the female flyer started feeling unwell.

Flight IX-2714, with about 150 passengers on board, started taking off from the runway at 7:45 pm. Due to the aircraft's AC being switched off, the heat in the cabin increased, and a female passenger became dizzy and almost fainted.

Several flyers took to social media to raise concerns

A flyer wrote, "This is Air India Express IX 2714 Pune to Jaipur. Scheduled departure 19:50. All are boarded since 19:30 without air conditioning and air circulation. All are feeling suffocated, but the cabin crew is not able to answer. What should the passengers do, according to you?"

One flyer narrated the whole ordeal on X and wrote, "Absolutely outrageous! Airlines charge us a fortune for these flights and yet here we are, 30+ minutes after boarding completed and the AC is STILL OFF. People are literally using carry bags as fans just to survive in this heat. Every time we ask, it's the same pathetic excuse: 'Just 5 more minutes.' It's been over half an hour! In this sweltering summer heat, this isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s a potential health hazard. What are we paying all this money for? Certainly not basic passenger comfort or safety. This is gross negligence, and it needs to be called out LOUD. Do better, or stop pretending you care about your customers. This is unacceptable! The flight was from BLR to Jaipur, and we are stuck in Pune (layover). Flight number IX 2714. A passenger literally had a panic attack and all the passengers are legit out in the lobby because none of us can survive this condition. The plane has still not departed when their revised time was 11:30 PM. And the staff says, 'We are waiting for some passengers.' They have no answer for how much time they are gonna wait, 1 hour, 2 hours, 1 day, 1 week. @RamMNK @MoCA_GoI, this is a serious issue."

Air India Express issues statement

Due to her unwell condition, the female passenger was deboarded from the plane and was given immediate medical aid. However, other passengers had to wait in the hot cabin for about two hours. This caused frustration among the passengers. After complaints from passengers, the crew added ground AC units, and some passengers were allowed to stand on the aerobridge.

Air India Express' official statement said, "Our flight bound for Pune decided to divert to the gate before takeoff due to medical reasons. Immediate medical attention was provided at the concerned hospital, and the patient was allowed to return home. We have provided full cancellation charges or alternative booking facility to all the passengers."