India, April 23 -- It was a 9.35 p.m. Air India flight (2412) departing to Bengaluru and as Sam Thomas, former jet line training captain who flew with the airline for 20 years, headed from his meeting in the capital to T3 (Delhi's airport terminal), the unexpected and powerful dust storm that hit the city that Friday evening (April 11) appeared to have subsided.

On arrival, the airline announced a delay to 10.20 pm and by 10 pm the passengers were boarded. The air conditioning was on, passengers were offered a meal and many fell asleep briefly. When by 11 pm the aircraft was still attached to the aerobridge and take off was not announced, Sam called a contact in the ATC to learn that the aircraft had not yet sought clearance for takeoff....