Bad weather grounds Alliance Air’s Delhi flight

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 1

Panic gripped the occupants of Alliance Air’s Amritsar-New Delhi flight as it had to return 15 minutes after departure from the Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport on Friday morning. It returned to the airport safely. There were 52 passengers in the flight which departed at 9.35 am after a delay of 35 minutes. Air India officials claimed that the pilot decided to return due to bad weather.

Meanwhile, passengers narrated a different story. Surinder Duggal said passengers heard a blast and saw sparking on the left side of the plan. Before returning, the pilot announced that there was something wrong, he said.

Passengers said officials asked them to stay in the plane as it would begin with the journey after an inspection. “At 12:45 pm, officials informed that there was some technical hitch and we can’t move. Despite several promises, the company officials failed to provide alternative arrangements. The passengers have waited for the alternative flight in the open when there was raining outside. Finally the company offered to get refund the tickets”, said another passenger.

Surinder Dugal said there were 10 foreigners and several kids and women in the flight who faced sheer inconvenience.

Passengers also staged a protest against the airline for “poor” services. According to information, several passengers had connecting flights for other domestic and international airports from Delhi. The company refunded for one side tickets of 36 passengers while 16 passengers stayed at the airport and will fly tomorrow.

Ashok Singh, manager, Air India, said, “There was no snag. It was only due to bad weather. The flight stuck in clouds where lightning was reported. We have refunded the tickets and made alternative arrangements for the passengers.”