Worse, there was no information about the flight or the reasons for its late departure.
Air India flight number IX661 to Chennai, was scheduled to depart from Singapore at 11 in the morning local time (8 am IST) but did not leave until 12 later.
Among the six students was a worried 19-year-old Saikumar studying at the National Technological University, Singapore who made several calls to his father in Bangalore.
Anxious, his father, Shankaranarayan, a former general manager of a bank, tried getting in touch with Air India through their helpline and also through their Chennai office but all in vain.
Shankaranarayan told Deccan Herald: “The problem was not only the delay. It was lack of information and co-operation. The Air India personnel had not provided any information there in Singapore and nor were they responding here, leaving everybody worried.”
Worried father
His son was supposed to come to Chennai and then reach home (Bangalore) by road. His son had called him more than five times and sounded worried.
On whether he would seek compensation for the delay as provided for by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India, Shankaranarayan said: “The point is not about the money but about the safety and other aspects of the passengers, the airlines operator, especially because it is State-run, must be more pro-active and respond to user calls.”