Airline to Pay ₹1.5 Lakh Compensation After Mother and Child Endure 10-Hour Ordeal on Flight

A Delhi consumer court has taken action against an airline regarding an incident during a 2017 flight where a woman and her infant were made to wait on board for 10 hours. The airline has been ordered to pay ₹1.5 lakh, covering both compensation and expenses.

It is difficult to predict when a routine flight might turn into a source of distress and a long wait for a passenger. A similar situation befell a female passenger who, along with her child, had to wait for hours on a flight. The issue—stemming from the flight's cancellation and a lack of proper amenities—escalated to the point where it had to be taken to the consumer court.

Business Class Ticket Booked in 2017

The incident dates back to 2017, when a female passenger booked a business-class ticket from Los Angeles to Mumbai through a travel agent. The journey was scheduled to include a layover in Beijing, with the return flight departing from Los Angeles on July 19.

The woman stated she was informed that boarding would be delayed by approximately two hours. However, even after boarding was completed, the aircraft remained stationary on the runway and did not take off for several hours.

No Food or Drink for the Child

In her complaint, the woman noted that due to the prolonged wait on board, passengers were not offered any food or beverages. She further stated that she was traveling with her child, yet hot water was not made available to prepare milk.

After some time, passengers were informed that the flight had been cancelled, leaving the woman and her child stranded at the airport for several hours. According to her, they received neither proper meals nor accommodation arrangements during this period.

Airline's Response

In its defense, the airline explained that all flights had been grounded that day due to heavy rainfall. The company maintained that the situation was beyond its control. Compensation cannot be claimed for flight cancellations or delays caused by such circumstances.

However, upon examining the weather report for that day, the Consumer Commission found that conditions were not severe enough to warrant the cancellation of the flight.

Company ordered to pay a penalty of ₹1.5 lakh

Following the hearing, the Consumer Commission issued an order holding the company responsible for the inconvenience caused to the woman and her child. Consequently, the airline has been directed to pay ₹1 lakh as compensation and an additional ₹50,000 towards litigation costs.