Over 200 passengers on a San Francisco-bound Air India flight found themselves in a prolonged ordeal in the national capital, enduring a delay of over 30 hours due to technical glitches, non-functional air conditioning, and payload issues.
Scheduled to depart from Delhi airport around 15:30 on Thursday, flight AI 1183 faced nearly a 6-hour delay before being rescheduled for Friday. Despite further rescheduling on Friday, the Boeing 777 aircraft finally took off around 21:55, leaving passengers, including elderly individuals and children, frustrated after multiple delays and uncertainties.
While the flight eventually departed, 21 passengers chose to deboard on Friday night, likely due to the prolonged wait and discomfort caused by the delays.
Because of night landing restrictions at San Francisco, Air India officials sought permission for a night landing, prolonging the passengers’ journey to approximately 16 hours. However, the journey was further delayed by technical issues and payload problems, prompting the airline to offload cargo before departure.
Passengers onboard described a distressing situation, with one mentioning that the air conditioning was switched off due to temperature issues, exacerbating the discomfort during the prolonged wait.
Despite the ordeal, there has been no official statement from Air India regarding the flight delay. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to the airline, citing delays and inadequate passenger care on previous flights.
Earlier in the week, another Air India flight to San Francisco faced similar issues, with passengers complaining about the lack of air conditioning and prolonged delays. Passengers took to social media to express their frustration, highlighting the challenges faced by travelers due to the airline’s operational issues.
While the airline claimed to offer passengers options for rescheduling, full refunds, and hotel accommodations, some passengers reported a lack of communication regarding these alternatives.
This recent incident underscores the challenges faced by passengers flying with Air India, raising concerns about the airline’s operational efficiency and passenger care standards. As travelers continue to navigate uncertainties in air travel, incidents like these highlight the importance of transparency, communication, and effective crisis management by airlines to ensure passenger well-being and satisfaction.
