Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Delhi commission orders airline to pay Rs 1.5 lakh
A mother and her baby were travelling from Los Angeles to Mumbai through Beijing.
Their airplane waited on the ground for almost 10 hours and did not take off.
The mother said they did not receive enough food or drinking water.
She also said the crew would not give her hot water to make milk for her baby.
The flight was later cancelled.
The mother and baby then waited at the airport for more help.
The airline said bad weather caused the delay and cancellation.
A Delhi consumer commission said the airline had not shown a strong enough reason for handling the situation that way.
It ordered the airline to pay Rs 1.5 lakh.
A woman and her infant allegedly remained aboard a delayed Los Angeles flight for nearly 10 hours without adequate food or water.
The woman said crew refused to provide hot water needed to prepare milk for her baby.
The flight was eventually cancelled, and the family allegedly waited several more hours without proper assistance.
The airline blamed heavy rainfall and adverse weather, arguing compensation was not payable for circumstances beyond its control.
A Delhi consumer commission awarded Rs 1 lakh in compensation and Rs 50,000 in litigation costs.
- Who
- A woman travelling with her infant son, the airline, and the Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
- What
- The commission found deficiency in service and ordered the airline to pay Rs 1.5 lakh.
- When
- The journey was scheduled to depart on July 19, 2017; the order was passed on September 2, with the year not specified in the report.
- Where
- The disrupted flight was scheduled to travel from Los Angeles to Mumbai via Beijing; the consumer case was heard in Delhi.
- Why
- The commission said the woman and infant suffered because of poor service, negligence and irresponsible behaviour during the prolonged delay and cancellation.
Passenger and Commission
Airline
Cause of disruption
Passenger and Commission
The commission found that the airline had not established compelling circumstances justifying the cancellation in the manner alleged by the passenger.
Airline
The airline attributed the delay and cancellation to heavy rainfall and adverse weather, saying the disruption was beyond its control.
Passenger treatment
Passenger and Commission
The woman said she and her infant lacked adequate food, drinking water, accommodation and assistance, and that crew refused hot water for preparing milk.
Airline
The airline argued that passengers were not entitled to compensation when weather conditions caused the delay or cancellation.
Responsibility
Passenger and Commission
The commission held that the airline’s conduct amounted to deficiency in service and awarded compensation and litigation costs.
Airline
The airline defended its handling of the disruption by maintaining that the weather justified its actions.
- Total award
- Rs 1.5 lakh
- Compensation
- Rs 1 lakh
- Litigation expenses
- Rs 50,000
- Flight route
- Los Angeles to Mumbai via Beijing
- Delay
- Nearly 10 hours aboard the aircraft before cancellation
- Airline explanation
- Heavy rainfall and adverse weather
- Payment deadline
- Within four weeks of receiving the order