Passengers on multiple Air India flights got a rude welcome at Mumbai airport on Monday — they landed on time but were then made to sit inside their aircraft for up to 90 minutes, going nowhere. The reason:
employees of a third-party ground handling agency had walked off the job, triggering disruptions across both Air India and Air India Express operations at one of India’s busiest airports.
The industrial action — aviation’s term for a strike or work stoppage — meant that basic ground operations including deplaning support, baggage unloading and aircraft servicing were either severely delayed or unavailable. Passengers who eventually got off their flights then faced a second ordeal: long waits, sometimes exceeding an hour, to receive their checked-in baggage.
Passengers Speak: ‘We Have A Ship To Board’
The human cost of the disruption came through sharply on X. Seafarer Atul Sharma, who arrived on Flight AI 2995 from Delhi, posted: “Very disappointed with Air India service at Mumbai Airport. Arrived from Delhi on Flight AI 2995 over 1 hour ago, baggage is still not delivered and no proper assistance from staff. We are seafarers and need to urgently join our ship from Mumbai. Kindly resolve this immediately.”
For seafarers, missing a ship joining is not an inconvenience — it can mean job consequences and significant financial loss.
Passenger @MockingBirdY2K, on board Flight AI 2852 which landed at 12:01 PM, posted: “I am on Air India Flight AI 2852, which landed in Mumbai at 12:01 PM today. It has been over an hour, and we are still seated inside the aircraft. We have been informed that an industrial strike is causing delays due to limited ground staff.”
Another passenger, @shaswat_kt, tagged the Ministry of Civil Aviation directly: “Pls note passengers are stuck in Air India flight AI 2874 which landed in Mumbai for close to 90 minutes now without any update.” At least three flights — AI 2852, AI 2874 and AI 2995 — were publicly confirmed as affected.
What Air India Said
The carrier issued a statement acknowledging the disruption: “Industrial action by employees of third-party ground handling agency at Mumbai airport is impacting the operations of Air India Express and Air India. Our airport teams are working closely with all stakeholders to minimise inconvenience to guests and restore normal operations at the earliest.”
The statement did not name the agency involved, did not explain the reason for the workers’ action, and gave no timeline for resolution — leaving stranded passengers with little to go on.
Who Are Ground Handlers And Why Does Their Strike Ground A Flight?
Ground handling is the invisible backbone of every flight. These are the workers who park the aircraft at the bay, operate the aerobridge or steps, unload baggage from the hold, refuel the aircraft, clean the cabin and handle check-in.
When they stop working, flights cannot turn around — meaning arriving aircraft are stuck at bays, departures pile up and passengers are left sitting inside planes with engines off.
Mumbai airport, handling over 50 million passengers a year, is particularly vulnerable to such stoppages. A work stoppage at even one major ground handler can create a cascading effect across terminals within hours.
Has This Happened Before?
This is not the first time ground handling industrial action has disrupted Air India at Mumbai. In 2018, a flash strike by employees of AIATSL — Air India’s own ground handling subsidiary — over non-payment of Diwali bonus delayed over 37 domestic and international flights by up to three hours.
The pattern then was identical: sudden action, no prior notice, quick escalation. Normal operations resumed only after management negotiations.
What Happens Next?
Air India said its teams are working to restore normal operations. What the ground handling workers’ specific demands are, and how quickly the standoff will be resolved, remains unclear. Affected passengers have been advised to check flight status before heading to the airport.
