AI flight delayed by 7 hours, passengers create ruckus as Mumbai airport

Agitated passengers of the Air India Mumbai-Ahmedabad flight created a rukus at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport after the flight was delayed for close to seven hours.

The Air India flight AI 031 was scheduled to depart for at 1.35 am past midnight. However, it could take off at 8.20 am on Saturday morning.

The delay was because of unavailability of the pilot for the aircraft.

More than 250 passengers were stranded because of the flight delay, leading to a furore at the Mumbai airport.

"The flight was delayed due to flight duty time limitation (FDTL) issue and crew constraints," an Air India spokesperson said.

According to norms of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), pilots and cabin crew are barred from flights after flying beyond notified flying hours.

Because of the delay, the agitated passengers were engaged in a war of words with the airport, airline and security staff.

The passengers had to spend their time in the boarding area of the CSIA as the delay was announced in a staggered manner.

The issue also figured on the social media.

A passenger, Satish Mudaliar, sent out a series of tweets on the delay - starting with "waiting since 12.30 am". He lamented that authorities were not responding properly with correct information to the passengers.

"@airindiain Now this is the height AI person cums & says Captain in not there so it will be delayed bt he dont knw the tym...AI r u seriously into business...this wat u call as service," he tweeted.

DH News Service