Originally Posted by jiejie

Completely and absolutely inexcuseable. Which begs the question: Why is the discretion to let passengers off 100% the discretion of the airline? With a potential delay of this magnitude, no airline should even have the choice of holding passengers hostage.

Had I been a passenger on that aircraft, after one hour on the tarmac with no end in sight and no credible information, I'd probably be leading the charge to overpower the cabin crew, open the doors, and evacuate. Pilot be d@mned. Of course this would have led to my arrest, but think about the choice:

Arrest by British police and being carted off to a British jail, where at least the possibility of a lie-down and a plate of bangers and mash or a Cornish pasty awaits....versus....Nine hours in an Air India tubal prison, hungry and desperate, overlorded by complete bozos. A no-brainer!