Air India Mumbai-London Flight AI129 Delayed Over 6 Hours Due to Technical Issues

Air India has announced that flight AI129 from Mumbai to London, originally scheduled for a 6:30 AM departure on Saturday, has experienced significant delays.

According to the official statement released by Air India, the flight's new departure time is set for 1:00 PM due to technical issues. The airline has provided refreshments to passengers during their extended wait time.

The aircraft remains stationed at Mumbai airport. One passenger reported that travelers were initially informed of a 30-minute delay in boarding. Eventually, the boarding process began at 6:00 AM instead of the originally scheduled 5:20 AM.

After boarding, passengers remained seated for approximately 60 to 90 minutes before an announcement instructed them to deplane due to technical complications. Passengers were subsequently informed that the flight would depart at 12:00 PM.

Many travelers, having stayed awake the previous night to catch the early morning flight, are experiencing considerable inconvenience due to the extended delay.

This incident follows broader disruptions in Indian aviation. Just one day earlier, at least 100 flights experienced delays at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) due to technical problems with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. Delhi Airport advised passengers to contact their airlines directly for the latest flight information.

In a statement posted on X, Delhi Airport explained: "Due to a technical issue with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, flight operations at IGIA are experiencing delays. Their team is actively working with all stakeholders, including DIAL, to resolve it at the earliest."

Multiple airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet issued advisories alerting passengers to possible delays resulting from operational disruptions at the national capital's international airport.

Air India posted on X: "A technical issue with the ATC system in Delhi is impacting flight operations across all airlines, leading to delays and longer wait times at the airport and onboard aircraft. We regret the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption, which is beyond our control, and appreciate your patience."

The airline further stated: "Our cabin crew and on-ground staff at the airport are extending immediate assistance to reduce passenger inconvenience. We request that you check your flight status before heading to the airport."