Air India passengers were stranded at an airport in Thailand for 80 hours.

More than 100 travellers were struck at the Phuket International Airport when the flight to Delhi was beset with delays caused by technical issues on November 16.

One of the passengers said that the flight was initially scheduled to depart late in the evening. However, airline staff informed them of a six-hour delay due to a technical problem.

After hours of waiting at the airport, passengers were eventually asked to board the plane, only to be told an hour later to disembark as the flight was ultimately cancelled.

Local reports said the airline provided accommodation and meals for the stranded passengers, while others were rebooked on available flights. Passengers were also given the option of free rescheduling or full refunds in the event of cancellation.

In an official statement, Air India acknowledged the flight cancellation due to a technical issue and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.

'The safety and security of passengers and crew remain Air India's top priority,' the airline added.

However, when passengers were reboarded on the aircraft later, the plane returned to Phuket after a two-and-a-half-hour flight due to another technical issue, leaving them stranded once again.

Local reports stated that several passengers have since arrived in India, while another 40 were expected to reach New Delhi by the evening of November 20.