The flight was to take off from Chennai at 1730 hrs.
"The flight AI-539 from Chennai for Delhi was held up for about an hour as the oxygen mask for the co-pilot had to be changed at the last minute," the source said.
When contacted an Air India spokesperson said the delay was due to the late arrival of an incoming flight.
In a similar incident in April, the commander of Air India's Kochi-bound flight had refused to operate the flight, citing "dirty" oxygen mask.