Chaos erupted at multiple airports across India on Wednesday as Air India's check-in system suffered a major technical breakdown, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and frustrated.
The system failure, which began during peak morning hours, severely impacted operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport - Air India's main hub - along with Mumbai, Chennai, and several other major airports nationwide.
Passenger Frustration Mounts at Counters
Long queues snaked through terminal buildings as ground staff struggled to process passengers manually. Travelers reported waiting for hours while airline personnel attempted to issue boarding passes using alternative methods.
"I've been standing in this queue for over two hours," complained one frustrated passenger at Delhi airport. "The staff is trying their best, but without the computer system, everything has slowed to a crawl. I'm seriously worried about missing my flight."
Air India's Response to the Crisis
Air India officials acknowledged the technical issues, stating that their IT team was working urgently to restore normal operations. In an official statement, the airline apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
"We are experiencing issues with our check-in system which have impacted operations across some airports," an Air India spokesperson confirmed. "Our technical teams are working on resolving this at the earliest. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers."
Domino Effect on Flight Operations
The system failure created a domino effect throughout the day:
- Manual check-in processes causing significant delays
- Potential flight disruptions and departures behind schedule
- Increased passenger anxiety about missing connecting flights
- Ground staff overwhelmed by manual processing requirements
This incident marks another challenge for the Tata Group-owned airline, which has been working to improve its operational reliability and service standards since taking over the carrier.
Passengers were advised to arrive at airports earlier than usual and maintain contact with Air India's customer service for real-time updates on the restoration of normal services.
