Ghaziabad, July 29 - On July 27, 2025, an Air India Express flight, designated as IX1512, scheduled to depart from Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, to Kolkata, encountered a significant disruption due to a technical issue that prevented its takeoff. The flight, originally set to leave at 5:00 PM and arrive in Kolkata by 7:20 PM, was grounded after the crew identified a technical snag while the aircraft was on the runway, preparing for departure. Compounding the issue, watch hour limitations at Hindon Airport, which restrict flight operations to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset, made it impossible for the flight to depart as scheduled. As a result, the flight was delayed until the airport resumed commercial operations the following morning, leaving approximately 200 passengers stranded for over 19 hours.
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The aircraft, which had arrived 43 minutes late from its previous stop in Goa, faced further delays after boarding commenced around 6:00 PM. Passengers were informed of the technical issue after waiting on the plane for about an hour, during which time the ground crew were observed inspecting the aircraft, including climbing onto its wings to address the problem. The airline’s efforts to resolve the issue were hampered by the airport’s operational constraints, as Hindon, primarily a defense base with limited civilian flight operations, does not permit nighttime departures. In an attempt to mitigate the situation, Air India Express initially transported passengers to Delhi’s main airport in hopes of securing an alternative flight. However, no suitable flights were available, and passengers were returned to Hindon Airport around 3:00 AM, where they were informed that the flight would depart at 6:00 AM on July 28 after engineers cleared the aircraft for operation.
To address the inconvenience, Air India Express provided affected passengers with several options, including complimentary hotel accommodations in nearby facilities, free rescheduling of their travel, or a full refund for those opting to cancel their bookings. The airline issued an official statement expressing regret for the disruption and assured passengers that the flight would depart as soon as commercial operations resumed on Monday morning. This incident follows a similar event on July 23, when an Air India Express flight from Kozhikode to Doha returned to its origin shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue, with the airline arranging an alternative aircraft and providing refreshments to passengers.
The prolonged delay at Hindon Airport underscores the challenges of operating commercial flights from a facility primarily designed for military use, where infrastructure and operational flexibility are limited. Air India Express’s response, including the provision of accommodations and refund options, aimed to alleviate passenger inconvenience, but the incident highlights the importance of robust maintenance protocols and contingency planning to minimize disruptions in such scenarios. Further details on the specific technical issue and the flight’s eventual departure remain under review by the airline and airport authorities.