Oman Incident Family Protest Outside AISATS Office kerala, Demanding Compensation from Air India Express

Family Protests with Deceased’s Body Outside AISATS Office Demanding Compensation from Air India Express

Thiruvananthapuram, May 16 (PTI): The family of a man who recently died in Oman staged a poignant protest outside the AISATS office in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, seeking compensation from Air India Express. The family claims that the airline’s flight cancellations, due to a cabin crew strike, prevented the man’s wife from being by his side in his final moments.

The deceased man’s family gathered outside the office of Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Limited (AISATS) with his body, making a silent yet powerful statement. According to visuals broadcasted on TV channels, the relatives placed the body at the steps of the AISATS office and stood around it in a silent vigil.

Family Blames Airline’s Indifference

The deceased’s father-in-law voiced the family’s anguish, blaming the airline for their loss. He highlighted that his daughter, the deceased’s wife, was unable to travel to Oman because of repeated flight cancellations caused by the Air India Express cabin crew strike. This, he asserted, left the man without care in his final moments in the Gulf nation.

The body was brought to Kerala early in the morning, and the family immediately proceeded to the AISATS office. The father-in-law sat outside the main entrance, vowing not to move until Air India Express addressed their demands.

“Let the last rites and rituals be held, but I will not leave here till they make a decision. This should not happen to anyone else in the future,” he declared. “They have to take care of my grandkids and my daughter. They need to compensate us for the loss. Till they take a decision on that, I will not go from here.”

Demands for Accountability and Compensation

He criticized the staff at AISATS for distancing themselves from Air India Express, pointing to the large Air India sign as evidence of their connection. The family also noted that they had not even received a refund for the canceled ticket, though they stressed that financial compensation for the lost fare was not their primary concern.

Protest Draws Official Attention

Following the family’s protest, officials from Air India Express arrived to hold discussions with the family members, including the deceased man’s father-in-law, in the presence of the police. After the talks, the family called off their protest and took the body home to perform the last rites.

Political and Public Outcry

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, V D Satheesan, called for immediate intervention from the airline, as well as from the Central and state governments. He stressed that if the wife, Amrita, had been able to reach Oman, her husband’s life might have been saved.

“She could not complete that crucial journey in her life, and Air India Express cannot escape its responsibility,” Satheesan stated. He also highlighted that many others were affected by the flight cancellations, with some losing jobs or missing critical engagements.

Impact of Flight Cancellations

Amrita’s husband, who suffered from heart problems, was hospitalized in Muscat, Oman. She had booked a ticket on an Air India Express flight for May 8, hoping to be by his side. However, like hundreds of other passengers, she was informed upon arrival at the airport that all flights were canceled. Her protest at the airport initially earned her a ticket for the next day, but that flight was also canceled, forcing her to abandon her travel plans. Her husband passed away on May 13.

A Broader Context of Discontent

The strike and subsequent flight cancellations stemmed from discontent among a section of Air India Express’s cabin crew. The strike, which began due to alleged mismanagement during the merger process of AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) with Air India Express, led to the cancellation of over 260 flights between May 8 and May 10. The strike was called off on May 10 after the airline withdrew termination letters issued to 25 striking cabin crew members.

By May 12, the airline announced it was slowly restoring flights and stabilizing its network, with full normalcy expected by the following Tuesday. The cabin crew union confirmed that all members who had reported sick had returned to duty by May 11.

The incident has drawn significant attention to the impacts of airline operational disruptions on passengers’ lives, emphasizing the need for reliable service and accountability in the aviation sector.