TIRUPATI: As many as 163 passengers of Delhi-bound Air India flight (AI-541) from Tirupati was stranded at Renigunta airport here on Monday evening, following delay in take-off and subsequent cancellation of the flight.
Technical snag in one of the two engines of the aircraft was cited as the reason for the delay and subsequent cancellation. After two hours of efforts, the engineers, pilots and flight crew informed the airport authorities about the situation and recommended ‘abandonment’ of the aircraft. It was taken off the runway so as not to obstruct other flights.
The flight was scheduled to depart from Tirupati at 1:45 and all the passengers checked in and were issued boarding passes. However, at the last minute, it was announced that the flight was delayed by 30 minutes for technical reasons. Thereafter a second announcement was made that the flight was delayed by another 30 minutes. Later, another announcement was made that flight was delayed by one more hour.
Finally, after two hours, flight cancellation announcement came and passengers were asked to make their own alternative arrangements while offering refund of fare amount. By that time all the passengers waiting with the boarding passes felt restless and angry.
“They failed to arrange an alternative flight and food to the stranded passengers. No one was ready to provide proper information,” fumed Thumburu Pradeep, one of the passengers, who chose to return to Tirupati. Several of the passengers were furious with the shabby treatment and entered into heated arguments with AI staff. The latter told the passengers that they were only following instructions.