A scheduled Air India flight from Delhi to Vancouver faced a substantial delay, stretching to 22 hours before finally taking off in the early hours of Sunday. The flight, originally slated for departure on Saturday morning, encountered a series of setbacks attributed to technical issues and crew duty limitations.
According to reports, the Air India flight AI 185, bound for Vancouver from Delhi, was initially scheduled for takeoff at 5:30 am on Saturday. However, a technical problem necessitated a rescheduling. Additionally, the crew exceeded their mandatory Flight Duty Time Limitations, contributing further to the delay. Ultimately, the flight departed at 3:15 am on Sunday, June 2, marking a 22-hour delay from its original schedule.
An Air India spokesperson addressed the delay, citing “technical issues” and crew duty limitations as the primary reasons. This incident marks the latest in a series of delays for Air India’s long-haul flights in recent times.
Previously, Air India’s Delhi-San Francisco flight also faced significant delays, with one instance stretching beyond 30 hours due to issues such as malfunctioning air-conditioning systems on Boeing 777 aircraft.
In response to passenger grievances and concerns over operational efficiency, Air India apologized and offered compensation in the form of travel vouchers worth USD 350 per passenger for the San Francisco flight delay.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken notice of these repeated delays and issued a notice to Air India, seeking explanations regarding the delays of flights AI 183 from Delhi to San Francisco on May 30 and AI 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco on May 24.
This recent incident highlights the challenges faced by airlines in maintaining operational efficiency and adhering to safety protocols, prompting regulatory scrutiny and calls for improved passenger care and communication during such disruptions.
Sources By Agencies