WATCH: Passengers suffer as Air India flight takes off with malfunctioning AC

Malfunctioned air conditioning system of an Air India flight has caused a stir in India as passengers feel the flight took off despite the fault being discovered on the ground.

According to a news report, the airlines crew discovered the malfunction before the flight could take off. However, when the flyers notified the staff about the problem they said that the air conditioning would start working as soon as the flight takes off.

Passengers were left distraught as no solution was visible for two hours. “When I realized that the AC wasn’t working and the oxygen masks were of no help, I asked for the oxygen cylinder since I could barely breathe. That’s when I learnt that even the oxygen cylinder was empty,” Debasmita, an asthama patient, is quoted to have said.

According to a tweet sent by news agency ANI, many other passengers complained of suffocation. The report also said that passengers’ complaints were not heeded even when the flight landed in New Delhi.

According to another report, the passengers have demanded action. Air India said that the problem was a technical matter and an investigation would be initiated. The flight, AI-880, had 168 passengers and made a safe landing in New Delhi.