Saudi law firm issues notice to Air India Express over 24-hour delay of Dammam-Mangaluru flight
Jeddah/Dammam, April 15, 2025: A Saudi Arabian law firm has served a legal notice to Air India Express over a prolonged delay of Flight IX-886, which was scheduled to fly from Dammam to Saudi law firm issues notice to Air India Express over 24-hour delay of Dammam-Mangaluru flight.
The notice, sent on behalf of the affected passengers, demands accountability and compensation from the airline for the severe inconvenience caused to travelers, many of whom included senior citizens, children, and individuals with medical needs.
The notice was issued by International Justice Law Firm, a reputed legal firm based in Saudi Arabia. It was signed by noted Saudi lawyer and firm partner, Advocate Faten Faiz AlAhmari. The move was facilitated by Dr. & Advocate P.A. Hameed Padubidri, a well-known Indian-origin legal expert and social worker based in the Kingdom, who has played a key role in bringing the issue to legal attention. According to Dr. Hameed, he received multiple complaints from passengers and witnessed the suffering of those stranded, which prompted him to initiate formal legal action.
The flight, IX-886, was originally scheduled to depart from Dammam at 10:10 PM on March 25. However, due to unexplained delays, the passengers were left in limbo for over 24 hours. Several passengers reportedly spent long hours inside the aircraft and at the airport terminal without proper information, accommodation, or basic support from the airline. The ordeal drew widespread criticism, with many expressing frustration over the lack of communication from airline officials.
In the legal notice served to Air India Express, the law firm has accused the airline of negligence and highlighted multiple grievances. These include the unexplained delay, lack of official updates, absence of alternative arrangements such as hotel accommodation or food, and the extended detention of passengers inside the aircraft. The notice emphasized the physical, emotional, and financial toll it took on the passengers, particularly those with medical conditions or accompanying young children.
The notice has formally demanded a written apology from Air India Express to all affected passengers, full compensation for the hardships endured, a detailed explanation for the delay, and a clear assurance that similar lapses will not recur in future operations. The airline has been given a 15-day deadline to respond. If it fails to do so, legal proceedings will be initiated in both Saudi Arabia and India. The lawyers have stated that the airline will be held financially liable for any resulting litigation.
Dr. Hameed Padubidri, who has been vocal about issues faced by Indian expatriates in the Gulf, especially in relation to travel services, said that this incident is just one of many that reflect a broader pattern of negligence by certain airlines operating on Gulf-India routes. Speaking to the media, he remarked, “We expected improved efficiency and passenger care from Air India Express after its acquisition by the Tata Group. However, the continued lapses and negligence—especially on Gulf routes—have deeply frustrated the Indian expatriate community. If the airline fails to respond, we will pursue the matter vigorously in both Saudi and Indian courts to ensure justice for the affected passengers.”
The case has caught the attention of passenger rights advocates and legal experts in both countries. Many believe it could set a precedent for holding airlines accountable for delays and poor treatment of passengers, particularly in the heavily traveled Gulf-India sector.
As of now, Air India Express has not issued any official response to the notice.
@AirIndiaX,the passengers are still stranded inDammamAirport. As of 7:40PM here,they recd bording passes,but remain uncertain about their flight’s status.They includes patients, infants,senior citizens,medical students.Really,it’s inexcusable &ur reps are unresponsive. pic.twitter.com/58s2Wk3adX
— Dr.PAHPadubidri 🇮🇳 (@Abdulha60313772) March 26, 2025
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Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
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The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
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"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
