Image Source: Hindustan Times
More than 150 passengers on their way to Bengaluru were stranded for over 24 hours at King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, after their Air India Express flight (IX484) was repeatedly grounded because of technical issues. The flight, which was supposed to leave on April 25 at 8:30 PM, was repeatedly delayed because of what the airline termed as "technical problems."
Passengers, children, and elderly people reported that they were left stranded without food, shelter, or alternative modes of transport during the ordeal. Some of them aired their frustrations on social media over the failure by the airline to communicate and assist them, with some arguing that the airline's negligence endangered their safety.
A Saudi Arabia-based activist, Advocate PA Hameed Padubidri, mentioned that he was in contact with the stranded passengers and noted that this was the third major incident by Air India Express within a month, which was a concern with respect to the maintenance and emergency response of the airline. He compared the incident with Gulf airlines, which tend to provide immediate assistance such as food and hotel stay in the case of delays.
Following hours of uncertainty, the airline tried to rectify the situation and invited passengers aboard the plane the next afternoon, but the plane allegedly malfunctioned again as it taxied down the runway. The flight ultimately took off about midnight, close to a day after the scheduled departure time. Faced with growing criticism, Air India Express explained that the delay happened due to a technical glitch and claimed that hotel stay, meals, and free rescheduling or cancellation had been offered to passengers. The airline apologized for the trouble and reaffirmed that the safety of passengers and crew is its highest priority.
The crash is fueling growing calls for an early probe by Indian aviation regulators and even more strident demands for severe action against the airline.
Source: Times Now NewsMore than 150 passengers on their way to Bengaluru were stranded for over 24 hours at King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, after their Air India Express flight (IX484) was repeatedly grounded because of technical issues. The flight, which was supposed to leave on April 25 at 8:30 PM, was repeatedly delayed because of what the airline termed as "technical problems."
Passengers, children, and elderly people reported that they were left stranded without food, shelter, or alternative modes of transport during the ordeal. Some of them aired their frustrations on social media over the failure by the airline to communicate and assist them, with some arguing that the airline's negligence endangered their safety.
A Saudi Arabia-based activist, Advocate PA Hameed Padubidri, mentioned that he was in contact with the stranded passengers and noted that this was the third major incident by Air India Express within a month, which was a concern with respect to the maintenance and emergency response of the airline. He compared the incident with Gulf airlines, which tend to provide immediate assistance such as food and hotel stay in the case of delays.
Following hours of uncertainty, the airline tried to rectify the situation and invited passengers aboard the plane the next afternoon, but the plane allegedly malfunctioned again as it taxied down the runway. The flight ultimately took off about midnight, close to a day after the scheduled departure time. Faced with growing criticism, Air India Express explained that the delay happened due to a technical glitch and claimed that hotel stay, meals, and free rescheduling or cancellation had been offered to passengers. The airline apologized for the trouble and reaffirmed that the safety of passengers and crew is its highest priority.
The crash is fueling growing calls for an early probe by Indian aviation regulators and even more strident demands for severe action against the airline.
Source: Times Now News
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