A Malaysia Airlines flight from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur was delayed for two hours and departed with 100 of its scheduled 178 passengers after 78 travellers were denied boarding amid reports of an oxygen-system shortage and a technical issue at the airport’s international terminal.
Flight MH181 was scheduled to leave Chennai at 11.55pm on Sunday but took off at 2.20am on Monday, according to the report. The disruption led to commotion at the international departure terminal, with passengers waiting for several hours while the airline addressed the issue.
Malaysia Airlines did not officially state that an oxygen shortage caused the delay or the decision to allow only part of the passenger list to board. Sources cited in the report, however, said the shortage was given as the reason for denying boarding to some passengers. The airline described the matter as an operational disruption involving a technical issue.
Aviation expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan explained that passenger oxygen systems use a chemical reaction to generate oxygen when overhead masks are pulled down during an emergency. He said airlines may declare seats inoperable if the chemical generator linked to the oxygen system is not functioning, which could explain why the airline did not permit some passengers to board.
The incident also triggered complaints about passenger communication and basic assistance during the delay. One passenger said on X that travellers had been stranded for more than six hours and that airline staff had not provided proper information or water. The passenger also said there was uncertainty over the flight’s status and onward travel arrangements.
Malaysia Airlines responded to the passenger online with an apology. The airline said it understood how distressing the prolonged delay and uncertainty would have been, particularly for passengers with onward connections. Its response acknowledged concerns about travel arrangements and the lack of timely updates during the disruption.
Chennai airport sources said Malaysia Airlines arranged alternative flights for passengers who were stranded. The available report does not specify how many travellers were moved to alternative flights, when they were expected to depart or whether all 78 passengers were accommodated on the same service. It also does not establish whether the oxygen-system issue was confirmed as the technical cause after inspection.
The incident places attention on two separate obligations during an aviation disruption: ensuring that an aircraft is safe to operate and communicating clearly with passengers when boarding decisions change. In this case, the flight eventually departed with 100 passengers, while the remaining travellers were directed towards alternative arrangements by the airline, according to airport sources.
