The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show cause notice to Air India following the prolonged delays of two international flights and the airline's failure to adequately care for its passengers. On Friday, the aviation regulator addressed the incident where an Air India flight from Delhi to San Francisco was delayed by more than 24 hours. Passengers were reportedly boarded onto the aircraft without air conditioning, resulting in several individuals fainting.
The flight, initially scheduled to depart at 3:20 PM on Thursday, was rescheduled to leave at 7:00 PM on Friday. This incident, along with another delay involving flight AI 179 from Mumbai to San Francisco on May 24, prompted the DGCA to take action. The regulator's notice highlighted the discomfort passengers faced due to insufficient cooling in the cabin on both occasions.
The DGCA expressed concern over repeated incidents where Air India failed to comply with its norms regarding passenger care. These norms mandate specific facilities for passengers affected by denied boarding, flight cancellations, and significant delays. The regulator noted that Air India has repeatedly neglected these provisions, resulting in considerable passenger discomfort.
The notice called upon Air India to explain why enforcement action should not be taken against the airline for these violations. Passengers have voiced their frustrations, describing the experience as "inhuman." Prakash Mohan Tripathi, a 75-year-old passenger traveling with his wife to San Francisco, described the ordeal as "traumatic." He recounted that after an eight-hour delay on Thursday, passengers were boarded onto the plane without air conditioning and subsequently deplaned after some individuals fainted.
The DGCA's intervention underscores the importance of adhering to aviation regulations and ensuring passenger welfare during flight disruptions. Air India is now required to respond to the notice and justify its actions regarding the delayed flights and the conditions faced by the passengers.
