Former Australian cricketer David Warner recently expressed frustration with Air India after boarding a plane without pilots, leading to hours of delay. He questioned the airline's decision to board passengers without ensuring crew availability. 

He posted “X” (formerly Twitter), asking the authority about the situation. 

“@airindia We’ve boarded a plane with no pilots and have been waiting on the plane for hours. Why would you board passengers knowing that you have no pilots for the flight?” Warner wrote. He did not specify where he was headed but didn’t shy away from voicing himself against the airline causing him discomfort.

Air India responded, attributing the delay to challenging weather conditions in Bengaluru that caused diversions and delays across all airlines. The crew operating Warner's flight were delayed on an earlier assignment affected by these disruptions. 

“Dear Mr Warner, today’s challenging weather in Bengaluru caused diversions and delays across all airlines. The crew operating your flight were held up on an earlier assignment affected by these disruptions, which led to a delay in departure. We appreciate your patience and thank you for choosing to fly with us,” Air India said in a post on X.

This incident adds to a series of recent complaints against Air India, including flight delays, refund issues, and onboard service problems. For instance, in September 2024, a passenger reported unsanitary conditions in a first-class cabin, leading to a refund after the issue went viral. Additionally, in March 2025, an Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi had to return due to clogged toilets caused by improper disposal of items, resulting in passenger frustration over refunds and rescheduling. 

Despite efforts to revitalise its image under new management, Air India continues to face operational challenges and passenger dissatisfaction. The airline acknowledges these issues and is working towards improvements to regain customer trust.