Air India flight AI 1183, scheduled to depart from Delhi to San Francisco on Thursday, was delayed for over 30 hours due to a combination of factors, including a technical glitch, issues related to payload, and a non-operational air conditioning system. Over 200 passengers endured a prolonged wait at the airport.
Originally scheduled to take off at around 15:30 hours on Thursday, the flight was initially delayed for nearly 6 hours before being rescheduled for Friday. On Friday, the flight was first scheduled for departure around 11:00 hours and then changed to 15:00 hours, but after pushing back at around 17:45 hours, the plane returned to the bay.
Passengers faced significant discomfort due to the non-functional air conditioning system and inadequate communication from the airline. Some passengers, including children and elderly individuals, fainted due to the heat, and several passengers disembarked the aircraft due to the extended delay.
Air India has not yet issued an official statement regarding the delay, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show cause notice to the airline for flight delays and apparent lack of adequate care for passengers.
This incident marks the second time within a week that passengers on an Air India flight to San Francisco have experienced significant delays. On Thursday, passengers of another Air India flight took to social media to express their frustration about the delay, citing the absence of air conditioning on the plane.
