Over 100 passengers flying to New Delhi have been stranded in Phuket, Thailand, for over 80 hours because of a series of delays an Air India flight faced due to technical issues. Several passengers voiced their anger on social media platforms about the situation.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart on the night of November 16, took a six-hour delay after the airline representatives were found quoting a technical fault. After hours of waiting at the airport, passengers were told to board the plane, only to be deboarded an hour later as the flight was canceled eventually.
Air India, while apologising for the inconvenience caused to the passengers, stated that the flight on November 16 could not operate due to a technical malfunction. The airline stated that due assistance was extended to the passengers who were given hotel accommodation, including meals.
“Some guests were accommodated on alternative flights, and options for full refunds or complimentary rescheduling were offered,” the airline said. “At Air India, the safety and security of our passengers and crew is our top priority.”
The stranded group contains elderly travelers and children. After the initial cancellation, passengers were informed that the same aircraft had been repaired and was ready for departure. However, two-and-a-half hours into the flight, the plane returned to Phuket, citing another technical fault. Since then, passengers have remained stuck at the airport.
Flight tracking application FlightRadar captured the trajectory of the plane, which was shown to have flown two hours before turning back to Phuket. Passengers have reported less-than-satisfactory responses from representatives of the airline regarding their situation.
Earlier reports indicated that while some passengers had been sent back, about 40 remained in Phuket, with arrangements for their return later that evening.
