80 stranded as two Air India Express flights depart early from Kozhikode airport

MALAPPURAM: Two Air India Express flights took off several hours prior to their scheduled departure time, leaving around 80 gulf-bound passengers stranded at the Kozhikode airport on Sunday. Sources with Air India Express said the airline had sent emails on Saturday night informing travellers about the rescheduling of flights to Doha (IX 373) and Sharjah (IX 351).

However, passengers said they were caught unawares as many did not receive the email that was sent after 10pm. A passenger even received a message on her phone at 11 am on Sunday, informing that the flight’s departure time was rescheduled to 7:30 am. Several passengers had to reach their destinations early to join duty on Monday.