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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Woman, 2 sons found dead in Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): Three members of a family were found dead inside their home in southeast Delhi's Kalkaji on Friday, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, officials said.
Police said the incident came to light around 2.47 pm when a police team reached the premises to execute a court order related to possession of the property. When repeated knocks went unanswered, the staff used a duplicate key to open the door.
Inside, officers found Anuradha Kapoor (52) and her sons, Ashish Kapoor (32) and Chaitanya Kapoor (27), hanging from the ceiling, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said in a statement. All three were declared dead.
A handwritten note was recovered from the room, suggesting the family had been struggling with depression.
"The handwritten note indicates emotional distress faced by the family due to which the family may have taken the extreme step," the officer said.
The bodies have been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) mortuary for post-mortem and other legal formalities under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), police said.
Residents of the neighbourhood said they were shocked to learn about the deaths, adding that the family kept largely to themselves.
Pankaj Kashyap, a resident of Girinagar, said he learnt about the deaths while leaving for work. "I live and work here and was leaving for work when I saw many people standing outside and talking. That is how I got to know that three people had committed suicide. I also saw several police vehicles outside, but I do not know much beyond that," he said.
Baldev, another neighbour, said the family had been living in the newly constructed house for around two years. "We only knew that a mother and her two children lived there. They had moved into the newly built house around two years ago. We did not interact much with them. Today we heard that all three have committed suicide, and whatever we know is based on what people here are saying," he said.
Another neighbour, Ramesh Kumar, claimed the family had earlier attempted suicide.
"About fifteen to twenty days ago, the two sons in the family had attempted suicide and police and ambulances had come. That was when I first got to know who they were. I do not recognise them by face, but we saw the ambulances and police take the two sons that day. Today again we saw ambulances and police arriving, so everyone came out to see what had happened. I do not know how long they had been living here, but this is all we know," he said.
Police said they are examining the family's financial condition, social circumstances, and other factors that may have contributed to the incident. Further investigation is underway.
