Over 200 passengers of Air India travelling from San Francisco faced a 30-hour delay due to a technical glitch, the aircraft’s non-functional air conditioning system and payload issues. Initially planned for departure at 11:00 AM, the flight, operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft, had its departure time shifted to 3:00 PM. However, after finally pushing back at around 5:45 PM, the plane returned to the bay due to complications, according to informed sources.
The delay was initially attributed to a technical glitch, but payload issues were later identified. Sources indicated that the airline would need to offload some cargo before the flight could depart for San Francisco.
DGCA issues show cause notice to Air India
As of now, Air India has not issued an official statement regarding the extensive delay. Earlier in the day, the aviation regulator DGCA issued a show cause notice to Air India concerning multiple flight delays and the failure to adequately care for passengers.
“Air India is hereby called upon to show cause as to why enforcement action shall not be initiated against the airline,” for the violations, the regulator said.
The notice highlighted the significant delays of two international flights: AI 183 from Delhi to San Francisco on May 30, and AI 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco on May 24. This marks the second instance in a week where Air India passengers on a San Francisco-bound flight experienced considerable delays.
Air India passengers continue to struggle
On Thursday, frustrated passengers of the delayed AI 183 flight took to social media to voice their complaints. One passenger, journalist Shweta Punj, reported that there was no air conditioning on the plane. She tweeted, “If there is a privatisation story that has failed it is @airindia @DGCAIndia AI 183 flight has been delayed for over 8 hours, passengers were made to board the plane without air conditioning, and then deplaned after some people fainted in the flight. This is inhuman! @JM_Scindia.” Punj also shared a picture of passengers sitting on the floor at the Delhi airport.
Additionally, an Air India flight from Mumbai to San Francisco, initially scheduled to depart at 4:00 PM on May 24, was rescheduled and ultimately took off around 5:30 PM on May 25. This delay was attributed to multiple factors, including a technical glitch.
(With PTI input)