Some passengers on an AirAsia India flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra on Wednesday complained of ill treatment at the hands of airline staff after the flight was delayed by four-and-a-half hours, a passenger claimed. Indian Oil Corporation Executive Director (West Bengal) Dipankar Ray, who was onboard the same flight, said the staff behaved in a very "unprofessional and rude" manner with the passengers and asked them to de-board, leading to an altercation between both sides.

"The flight was scheduled to depart at 9 am and was initially delayed by 30 minutes. After boarding, we kept sitting inside the aircraft for one-and-a-half hours with no food or water at all," Ray said. The flight captain then instructed all passengers to de-board without any explanation, he added.