A Sri Lankan Airlines’ flight malfunction has left Maldivian passengers stranded in Cochin.

Around 70 Maldivians are stuck at the Cochin airport after the plane scheduled to fly to Colombo on Friday was grounded.

The stranded Maldivians include children and the sick.

A source told RaajjeMV that they have been stuck at the airport since Friday afternoon and that they had to wait inside the plane for five hours.

He also said that they were told to travel to Trivandrum via bus, which is a five-hour flight, and that promises of meals and a place to stay have gone unfulfilled.

Passengers of Sri Lankan Airlines are entitled to claim hotel accommodations and meals in case of flight delays or cancelations.