Irate AI Express passengers 'create scene' at airport

Kochi, Nov 18 (UNI) Irate passengers of Air India Express IX434 from Dubai refused to disembark from the plane on its arrival at the Nedumbaserry International Airport near here this morning, protesting against ''an inordinate delay'' in the flight schedule.

Airport sources said the flight, which was to have arrived yesterday, landed at 0445 hrs, with 123 passengers on board.

The passengers demanded that the airline refund them for causing severe inconvenience. They complained that the Air India officials in Dubai did not keep them informed about the delay and also did not let them go out of the airport.

The situation was resolved only after the Air India and CISF officials arrived at the scene and persuaded the passengers to leave the aircraft by about 0730 hrs.

According to airport officials, the arrival of two other Air India Express flights from the Gulf, and their subsequent departure, was also delayed today.

Air India officials said the flights from the Gulf region were getting delayed due to ''bad weather conditions''.

UNI