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More than 100 passengers on an Air India flight to New Delhi have been stranded in Thailand’s Phuket for over 80 hours due to multiple delays caused by technical issues, according to a report, citing several social media posts from passengers.
According to an NDTV report, An Air India flight scheduled to depart for Delhi on the night of November 16 was delayed by six hours due to a technical fault.
Passengers were eventually told to board, but were deboarded an hour later as the flight was eventually canceled, added the report.
Expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers, Air India said that the November 16 flight was “canceled due to a technical issue.”
The airline assured that staff worked to minimise disruptions by providing on-ground assistance, including hotel accommodations and meals.
“Some of the guests were also accommodated on alternatively available flights. Passengers were also offered options for full refunds on cancellation and complimentary rescheduling. At Air India, the safety and security of our passengers and crew is a top priority,” NDTV quoted Air India as saying in a statement.
The stranded passengers included elderly travelers and children. The following day, the plane was prepared for departure, and passengers were informed that the same aircraft had been fixed.
However, about two-and-a-half hours into the flight, the plane returned to Phuket, with passengers being told once again that a technical fault had occurred. Since then, they have remained stuck in Phuket, reported NDTV.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsFlightRadar tracking data showed the plane’s two-hour journey before it turned back to Phuket.
Social media posts suggest passengers have been receiving unsatisfactory responses from airline representatives.
Earlier, the airline source said, “Several passengers have been sent back. About 40 are still in Phuket, they would be sent back this evening.”
With inputs from agencies