Dubai: Finally, AI Express to Mangalore Takes off After 24-hour Delay

Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Apr 11: Passengers of Dubai-Mangalore Air India Express flight, who  were stranded at Dubai International Airport Terminal - 2, finally got relief when their flight took off after a 24-hour delay.

As reported by daijiworld on Tuesday, without intimating the exact depature time, Air India had put over 150 passengers in a dilemma, and provided accomodation in a hotel. On Tuesday April 10 at 7 pm, all the passengers were taken back to the airport on assurance that the flight would depart at 8 pm. But there was no sign of departure, and once again there was chaos as police security personnel had to interfere to pacify the angry Mangalore-bound passengers.

"We had small children crying the whole day, elderly people had to face nightmares, we had to spend the entire 24 hours in anxiety, and the treatment by the Air India staff was inhuman. This is a case worth reporting to Human Right commission, and we are planning to approach the Human Rights authorities in the UAE when we are back," said an angry passenger.

"How can Air India take us for granted? Are we their slaves? They loaded our luggage, issued boarding pass, and then after spending around 6 hours in the airport lobby, informed us about the delay and took us to hotel," said the passenger.

"We were begging them to return our luggage, so that we could arrange another flight and reach safely back to Mangalore," said a woman who was travelling with her mother and two kids.

"None of the staff took the responsibility, and they were just passing the buck on others. A big movement is needed to teach a lesson to Air India staff of Dubai airport," she said.

"The crew was aware that the delay would be of 24 hours, that's why they were avoiding answering us," she said.

Finally the passengers have been boarded on the next day's flight (Wednsday 1.10 am), and this flight too was delayed by an hour!.

Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Apr 10: The 150 passengers of Dubai - Mangalore Air India Express flight, scheduled to take off at 1.10 am on Tuesday April 10, had a harrowing time after the flight failed to take off, and was neither cancelled nor rescheduled.

Though the flight from Mangalore had arrived last night on schedule, the same flight had to take off at 1.10 am from Dubai International Airport - terminal 2. All the passengers having passed the immigration formalities were eagerly waiting to board the flight.

No indication has been given by the airport ground staff or the Air India staff. Passengers who were waiting for the boarding announcement lost patience and at around 2.30 am took the ground staff to task and demanded updates on the flight. The staff assured that the flight would take off at around 3.30 am, as usual giving 'technical' reason for the delay.

Passengers including small children, women, and the elderly had to go through a lot of difficulties at the airport.

According to a passenger, who contacted daijiworld this morning, informed that at 7 am, all passengers were taken to Lotus hotel at Diera, but were not given any reschedule time. The repeated requests from the passengers have not been answered by the Air India staff in Dubai. "We have been provided breakfast, and lunch, but unitl now (12 noon Tueday), there is no clear information on the flight schedule. We do not know whether the flight will be cancelled or we will be boarded on the flight next day, that is, Wednesday 1.10 am," the passenger told daijiworld.

Daijiworld's attempts at contacting Air India office in Dubai received no response. At the same time, sources from Mangalore Airport said that the flight went on schedule last night, but this morning the Dubai-bound flight could not arrive due to technical problems.

Over 150 passengers are in uncertain situation about their departure as their family members are waiting at the airport to welcome them. Those people who have come from Kasargod, Kannur, Bhatkal, Kundapur are not sure whether to wait or return to their places.

The Air India Dubai staff's attitude has seriously put innocent passengers in complete dark.