The Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight finally took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport after a delay of more than 30 hours, causing significant inconvenience to over 200 passengers. Initially scheduled to depart at 3:30 pm on Thursday, May 30, the flight was postponed multiple times before eventually departing at 9:55 pm on Friday, May 31, according to PTI.
Passengers faced extreme discomfort amid a severe heatwave, with many taking to social media to express their frustration. Some reported that the flight, which began boarding on Friday evening, turned back from the runway. Visuals showed passengers fanning themselves and pleading to be allowed out of the aircraft due to the heat, with some fainting during the wait.
The delays were attributed to operational reasons, including the need for a crew change. According t Air India sources, affected passengers were offered full refunds and hotel accommodations. However, the situation was exacerbated by the absence of air conditioning inside the aircraft on Thursday, leading to further distress among the passengers.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to Air India on Friday, citing repeated incidents of flight delays and passenger discomfort. The notice specifically mentioned the delays of the AI 183 Delhi-San Francisco flight and the AI 179 Mumbai-San Francisco flight, which experienced a similar six-hour delay last week.
Air India officials have sought permission for night landing in San Francisco due to restrictions at the destination. The Delhi-San Francisco flight duration is approximately 16 hours, meaning it would arrive in the American city at night.
Despite the severe inconvenience, there has been no official statement from Air India regarding the delays.
