An Air India flight was delayed by nearly 40 minutes at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here on Friday as Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member Dola Sen created a fuss over seating arrangement.

According to airline sources, the Rajya Sabha member was travelling to Kolkata on flight AI-020 with two other passengers, one of whom was wheel-chair bound.

Sources said Sen was allocated seats 11J, 11G and 11H, which were located near the emergency exits.

"As per CAR (civil aviation requirements) rule, the cabin crew requested that the wheel-chair passenger could not travel near emergency exit. MP Dola Sen started screaming," the airline source said.

The source said that the passenger on the wheel-chair was offered a business class seat by the AI commercial staff, which she refused.

"Meanwhile, passengers on-board and captain of the flight intervened. Finally, the flight departed 39 minutes late."