Uummmm, all the professionals have listed the reasons why it IS a complicated solution!!!
- Air India staff not present on site
- AI staff need permission to spend money - possibly from HQ
- Airport facilities already fully assigned.
- Airport space to be made available that would be safe and isolated from ALL other pax and the staff to monitor pax - for as many hours or days that it took. That space to have refreshements and toilet facilties for 250+ people
- Then to sort those people into disenbarking and waiting to go on to LHR.
- Then to sort their luggage / get fuelled / get crew / etc.
- All the while - they might get the 'go' instruction from ATC at any time.
You cannot STRAT to disembark the pax until ALL of the other points are lined up. In the modern phrase, "It's complicated
Wish this happened In the USA, all of those logistal issues should be balanced with the cost of a fine. A simple answer to streamline a better situation would be an interairline agreement to handle all the above common issues. Your last item, after 3 hours they should have been thinking about calling the "hold" off. Airports/Nations should mandate and be prepared for these circumstances. No excuse here.
I am SURE if they were subject to the fines imposed in the USA they would have found a way to do the right thing. Majic ain't it!