<p>Worse, there was no information about the flight or the reasons for its late departure.<br />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. <br /><br />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.<br />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.<br /><br />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.”<br /><br />Worried father<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”</p>
<p>Worse, there was no information about the flight or the reasons for its late departure.<br />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. <br /><br />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.<br />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.<br /><br />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.”<br /><br />Worried father<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”</p>
