Air India flight AI-179, originally scheduled to fly from Mumbai to San Francisco at 4 p.m. on Friday, encountered a series of delays due to technical issues and a medical emergency.
Image source ETV Bharat
Technical Glitch and Initial Delay
The flight was initially delayed due to a technical problem discovered just before departure. After addressing the issue with engineering checks, the departure was rescheduled to 7:17 p.m. on the same day.
Medical Emergency and Further Delay
However, shortly after takeoff, the flight had to return to Mumbai because a passenger fell ill. The ailing passenger was deboarded, which further delayed the flight. As the night landing restrictions at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) came into effect and the crew reached their flight duty limitations, the departure was postponed once again.
New Departure Time
The flight is now set to depart at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. An Air India spokesperson explained the situation, emphasizing the airline's commitment to passenger safety and comfort.
Passenger Accommodations
During the delays, passengers were provided with hotel accommodations, refreshments, and the option to reschedule their flights at no additional cost.
Statement from Air India
Image source Airportia
AI-179 from Mumbai to San Francisco, scheduled to depart at 1600 hrs on Friday, was delayed due to a technical issue arising just before departure. Safety being our top priority, the aircraft was held back for necessary checks. Later, a few passengers opted to discontinue their journey, which required offloading their baggage, causing further delay. The flight was pushed back at 1917 hours but had to return due to a medical emergency. While the passenger was being deboarded, night landing restrictions at SFO and crew duty limitations came into effect.
Compensation and Apologies
"We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our guests. The flight has now been rescheduled to 1030 hours tomorrow (Saturday).
Recent Developments at Air India
In other news, Air India, now owned by Tata Group, announced salary hikes for its employees and introduced an annual performance bonus for pilots. This move is part of a five-year transformation plan initiated in late 2022, aimed at revamping the airline and fostering a performance-driven culture.
Since Tata Group took over the airline, this is the first significant appraisal process for Air India staff, offering competitive salary increments to attract and retain talent.
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