Air India deplanes 200 passengers in Delhi after cabin cooling fault

More than 200 passengers bound for Singapore were deplaned at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday night after spending nearly two hours on board a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with a malfunctioning air conditioning and electrical system, the airline said. The flight, AI2380, had been scheduled to depart around 11:00 pm but was delayed; the aircraft was later changed and departed in the early hours of Thursday, the airline added.

Passengers who had already been seated for almost two hours were taken off the plane and escorted to the terminal after crew members informed them of the situation, according to a journalist who was on board. Video clips circulating on social media showed some travelers fanning themselves with newspapers and magazines while still in the cabin. Initial reporting indicated crew members did not give a specific reason for the decision to deplane passengers at the time.

Air India issued a statement on Thursday saying the flight was delayed because of a cabin cooling issue on the ground prior to departure. The airline said passengers were regularly informed about the delay and that ground staff in Delhi provided support, including refreshments...