Nine-year legal battle ends with payout over missed Saudi flight and airport ordeal.
A Kerala man has won a nine-year legal battle against Air India after a delayed flight left him stranded overnight at Mumbai airport, forcing him to spend thousands of rupees to return to his job in Saudi Arabia.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Thiruvananthapuram, has ordered Air India to pay Kapildev ₹136,000 (around Dh5,600) in compensation for financial losses, mental distress and legal expenses arising from the disruption, according to a report by Onmanorama.
What happened?
Kapildev, a 42-year-old driver working in Saudi Arabia, was returning after a holiday in Kerala in September 2017. He was booked on an Air India connecting journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai, followed by a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia.
The delay that led to extra costs
The domestic flight was delayed by more than two hours. Despite checking with airline staff about the possible impact on his connecting flight, Kapildev arrived in Mumbai to find that his international flight to Saudi Arabia had already departed.
How the delay cost him money
With no affordable seats available on the next Saudi-bound flight, Kapildev’s family arranged around ₹49,000 (about Dh2,000) through a travel agency in Saudi Arabia to purchase a new ticket.
Including the cost of the unused ticket, he said his total financial loss came to around ₹83,000 (about Dh3,400). He also alleged that Air India did not provide accommodation or adequate assistance while he spent the night at Mumbai airport.
What Air India said
Air India denied any deficiency in service, stating that the delay was caused by the late arrival of the incoming aircraft. The airline said it had attempted to contact passengers, provided refreshments and tried to arrange an alternative flight.
Consumer commission’s decision
The commission ruled in Kapildev’s favour, stating that Air India had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the delay or demonstrate that the disruption was caused by circumstances beyond its control.
The airline was directed to pay:
- ₹83,000 (about Dh3,400) for financial losses
- ₹50,000 (about Dh2,000) for mental distress
- ₹3,000 (about Dh120) towards legal expenses
The total compensation awarded amounted to ₹136,000 (around Dh5,600).
Speaking to Onmanorama, Kapildev said the case was not only about receiving compensation but also about reminding passengers that they have legal remedies when airlines fail to provide adequate assistance during travel disruptions.
