Travelers at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) experienced widespread chaos today as numerous Air India flights faced severe delays. Passengers reported being stranded inside aircraft for extended periods after landing, while others endured lengthy waits for their baggage.
Flash Strike Causes Major Disruption
The primary cause of the disruption was reportedly a flash strike by employees of a third-party ground handling agency operating at the airport. This industrial action led to critical services like passenger deboarding and baggage handling being severely impacted, affecting Air India's operations across various terminals.
Passenger Accounts of Frustration and Delays
Social media platforms were flooded with posts from stranded passengers detailing their experiences:
- One passenger noted that after boarding an Air India flight, an announcement revealed baggage had not been loaded due to the ground handling staff strike.
- Another flyer on Air India flight AI 2852 reported being stuck inside the aircraft for over an hour post-landing, missing a connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur.
- Several users highlighted the personal distress caused by the delays, including senior citizens traveling for a funeral who were stuck on their flight.
Even after deboarding, passengers faced further bottlenecks at baggage claim areas, where operations were significantly delayed.
Air India Responds to Inconvenience
In response to the numerous complaints online, Air India acknowledged the ongoing industrial action by staff of a third-party ground handling agency at Mumbai Airport. The airline stated that its airport teams are working closely with all stakeholders to minimize inconvenience and restore normal operations, appreciating passengers' patience and understanding during this challenging time.