ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

AI Delays Flight Ferrying Aviation Minister, CMD Calls Meeting

Flight delays? Not when the Aviation Minister is on board.

Updated
India
2 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

About 125 passengers of an Air India flight, travelling from Delhi to Vijaywada, were made to wait for 1.5 hours due to an unexpected delay on 13 December. This may not be an uncommon occurrence, but little did the airlines authorities know that among the passengers was the Aviation Minister, P Ashok Gajapati Raju.

Upon receiving complaints from his co-passengers, the minister immediately called up Air India Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Pradeep Kharola and asked him about the delay.

The flight took off 90 minutes later. Air India spokesperson GP Rao said that three staffers were suspended and a warning was issued to the captain, who reportedly arrived 15 minutes late to the airport.

The CMD of Air India has called a meeting of top officials to discuss the matter at hand, reports PTI.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Why the Delay?

The AI 459 flight had been diverted the day before owing to low visibility in Vijayawada. As a result, the AI operations wanted to figure out the visibility levels in Vijayawada before take-off on 13 December, so as to avoid another diversion, The Times of India reported.

According to the report, officials decided to delay the flight until visibility improved. At the same time, another wing of the airlines began the boarding process for the flight. When news of the boarding reached the first division, they started to rush the pilots to the flight. However, the commander was halted at security check for documentation issues and the co-pilot reached the plane alone.

0
After some time, some passengers got agitated and went to the business section of the plane where they found the cockpit door open and only one pilot in it, leading to resentment.
A passenger told Times of India

These angry passengers then circled Raju, who proceeded to call the Air India CMD.

(With inputs from ANI and Times of India)

(This is a developing story and will be updated)

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from news and india

Topics:  Delhi   Air India   Civil Aviation Minister 

Published: 
Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×