Chennai: In a baffling incident that has raised serious questions about operational protocols, an Air India flight carrying 152 passengers from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Bengaluru, causing significant distress and inconvenience. The flight, which took off from Delhi at 6:00 PM on Wednesday and was scheduled to land in Chennai at 8:30 PM, instead touched down at Bengaluru International Airport around 11:30 PM after circling over Chennai for approximately 30 minutes. The airline has yet to provide an official explanation for the unexpected diversion, leaving passengers demanding answers.
The incident has sparked outrage among the affected passengers, who took to social media to express their frustration. Many have questioned why the plane was not able to land at its intended destination and why they were not kept informed about the situation. The lack of clear communication from the airline during the ordeal has been a major point of contention. Passengers have stressed that a proper and transparent explanation is necessary to maintain confidence in air travel.
Concurrent Delay on Return Flight Compounds Passenger Woes
Compounding the airline’s troubles on the same night, a reciprocal Air India flight from Chennai to Delhi, which was scheduled to depart at 9:40 PM, experienced a massive delay of nearly four hours. This flight, carrying 160 passengers, finally took off at 1:30 AM. The twin disruptions affected more than 300 passengers in total, highlighting a significant operational hiccup for the carrier. The reasons for both the diversion and the lengthy delay on the ground in Chennai remain unclear, as Air India officials have not released a detailed statement.
Passengers from the diverted flight are now seeking clarification on several critical points: whether the diversion was caused by a technical fault with the aircraft, an issue during the landing approach in Chennai, or other operational reasons. They are also questioning the airline’s contingency plan for stranded passengers, including arrangements for travel from Bengaluru to Chennai.