Air India Express faced a major setback as a section of senior crew members reported sicken masse on May 7 night, leading to the cancellation or delay of more than 78 international and domestic flights across the country. Kerala, being a major hub for the airline, bore the brunt of this disruption, with thousands of passengers left stranded in the four international airports in the state.
At Thiruvananthapuram International Airport alone, four flights, including domestic and international, were cancelled until 10 a.m. on May 8. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the situation, and the airline has issued a statement apologizing to passengers for the inconvenience caused. The affected passengers have been offered a full refund or complimentary rescheduling to another date.