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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England sticking with Key, McCullum and Stokes despite Ashes humbling
London (AP): England is not sacking anybody following the 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia.
A review of the tour by the England and Wales Cricket Board, announced within hours of the final match in January, was concluded on Monday. Firing people would “be the easy thing to do,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said but he insisted, "This is not the time to throw everything out."
Managing director Rob Key, coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes kept their jobs after the best England side to go to Australia in 14 years lost the Ashes in 11 days with two games to spare.
“Moving people on can sometimes be the easy thing to do. That's not the route that we're going to take,” Gould said. “I've seen the driving ambition and determination that we're lucky enough to have within our leadership group to take the lessons from the Ashes and move forward.”
Gould previously was the chief executive of Bristol City soccer club and said the ECB would not follow the same route as soccer's hire-and-fire culture.
“Cricket is a very unique sport in that it takes a team of leadership ... it's not like football where there's a single point of failure or success with a manager," he said. He added the ECB would not “select or deselect management based on a popularity campaign.”
The main criticisms of England's tour were poor preparation, player misbehavior, and selection mistakes.
At a press conference at Lord's, Gould and Key said McCullum and Stokes have not had a “bust up,” they did not want McCullum to “completely change” but “to evolve,” the behavior of some players was “unprofessional,” there will be more consequences for underperforming, and a commitment to “better long-term planning” ahead of major test series.
Some changes were already implemented for the Twenty20 World Cup, where England reached the semifinals. Gould implied that performance saved McCullum.
Key acknowledged that England supporters would be disappointed to see the management team go unpunished.
“I know people want punishment and that people then should be sacked for that,” Key said. “That doesn't mean we don't feel like we've gone through some serious pain: Brendon, myself, Ben. It's been as tough a time as I think I've had.”
