July 31, 2025, New Delhi – In an incident that has grabbed headlines more for its quirk than its seriousness, a domestic passenger on an Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Delhi found himself in Bhubaneswar instead, after reportedly falling asleep and missing his stop. But while most reports have chuckled at the idea of a sleepy traveler waking up in the wrong city, the real issue may lie elsewhere: a significant lapse in the airline’s basic operating procedures.
What happened?
The passenger was traveling on a Srinagar–Delhi–Bagdogra itinerary, with a scheduled layover in Delhi. But when the flight stopped at Delhi, he did not disembark, allegedly because he had dozed off. The same aircraft continued to Bhubaneswar, and the passenger was only discovered mid-air.
According to reports, the crew had already offloaded his baggage in Delhi, but failed to ensure he had actually left the aircraft. This is a key oversight, especially on a multi-leg domestic flight where deboarding checks are standard SOP.
Airline acknowledges lapse
Air India Express has since admitted that standard operating procedures were not followed at Delhi airport. A headcount or manifest verification should have ensured the passenger was off the aircraft before it took off again.
In a statement, the airline said:
“On July 30, a guest transiting through Delhi on another flight inadvertently continued on the aircraft onward to Bhubaneswar. An internal investigation is being conducted to identify and address any lapses, while reiterating SOPs and internal briefings across stations to prevent recurrence.”
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has also launched an inquiry, recognizing that such an incident could have implications for operational safety and compliance.
What about the passenger?
After realizing he was en route to the wrong destination, the passenger alerted the crew. He was subsequently flown back to Delhi, provided hotel accommodation overnight, and then sent on to Bagdogra the next day.
So while the airline did eventually manage the fallout, the disruption to the passenger’s itinerary was entirely preventable.
A misleading narrative
The media coverage so far has mostly painted this as an amusing story of a sleepy traveler. But such framing masks the structural failure behind it.
Domestic flights in India – especially those with multiple legs – require strict adherence to security, manifest checks, and passenger handling procedures. When a transit passenger misses disembarking, it raises several red flags:
- Was the passenger manifest cross-checked before departure?
- Were crew or ground staff assigned to track connecting passengers?
- What if this had been a more sensitive security scenario?
The episode also touches on aviation safety culture. In an industry that demands rigor and routine, seemingly minor oversights can have outsized consequences, whether it’s a baggage mishandling, a misboarded passenger, or, in more serious cases, compromised cabin security.
By making the passenger the punchline, the media may be missing the real point: This wasn’t just a snooze-and-miss moment but a serious breach of basic airline procedure.
Image: Pexels/Ethan Sarkar
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