In New Delhi, the passengers of an Air India flight destined for San Francisco encountered a challenging ordeal at the airport. Departure was significantly delayed, extending beyond six hours due to technical issues with the aircraft.
The flight, designated as AI 183 and initially set to depart at approximately 15:30 on Thursday, has been rescheduled. It is now slated for departure at 15:00 on Friday, as confirmed by an airline representative. Some passengers voiced their frustrations on social media platforms, citing the prolonged delay and the lack of air conditioning within the plane.
Expressing her dismay, journalist Shweta Punj highlighted the distressing situation, underscoring the failure of Air India amidst the delay and discomfort experienced by passengers. She shared images depicting passengers seated on the airport floor due to the extended wait.
The airline spokesperson explained that the aircraft encountered a technical issue necessitating engineering assessments. Consequently, the flight crew exceeded the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL), and the scheduled departure was adjusted to avoid night landing restrictions in San Francisco.
Passengers were presented with various options, including a full refund, complimentary rescheduling, and accommodation. In March, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued guidelines permitting passenger disembarkation in cases of extended flight delays post-boarding, aiming to alleviate passenger inconvenience.
The directive aimed to address instances of congestion and prolonged delays, preventing passengers from being stranded onboard. BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan emphasized the importance of infrastructure readiness at airports to implement these guidelines effectively.
The status of Air India’s adherence to these guidelines remains uncertain. Meanwhile, another Air India flight from Mumbai to San Francisco encountered significant delays, eventually departing more than an hour later than scheduled, attributed to technical issues. Passengers endured a prolonged wait onboard before the flight was rescheduled for the following day.
