Commuters’ body demands action against Ai for delay

Passengers of Air India flight IX 206 travelling to Chennai from the city on Monday are seeking compensation for the seven hour-long ordeal and action against the airline staff.

Passengers of Air India flight IX 206 travelling to Chennai from the city on Monday are seeking compensation for the seven hour-long ordeal and action against the airline staff.

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The 180 passengers were made to sit inside an aircraft without air-conditioning for nearly two hours after the plane developed a technical snag. When passengers complained about suffocation, the airline deplaned them calling it ‘unruly behaviour’ and left them stranded in the terminal for five hours without food and water.

On Wednesday, the Air Passenger Association of India (APAI), a body formed by fliers, shot a letter to directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) seeking compensation and action against the national carrier.

“It is high time the civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, and the aviation regulator take notice of such incidents,” said Sudhakar Reddy, national president, APAI. Many aggrieved travellers on the Chennai-bound flight shared their experiences with the passenger body. “The airline harassed the passengers and then unfairly kept them waiting,” added Reddy.

Air India spokesperson, Jitendra Bhargava, said on Monday that the flight was suspended because passengers became unruly despite an announcement from the pilot, who said that the air-conditioning would be normal as soon as the aircraft gets airborne.

DGCA chief, Naseem Zaidi, was unavailable for comment.

A similar incident in the US could result in heavy fines being imposed on the airline. As per a new US rule likely to come into effect by March next year, airlines could be liable to pay a fine up to $ 27,500 (Rs 12.86 lakh) if passengers are made to wait on the tarmac without food for two hours or not allowed to disembark for three hours.

In India, the civil aviation ministry had proposed appointment of an Ombudsman to deal with such passenger grievances last year but airlines ignored it.

The Federation of Indian Airlines, a lobby group formed by domestic carriers, discussed the proposal twice but did not take a decision on it.

“None of the airlines were agreeable to the proposal. Also, the government did not clarify who would foot the bill for the Ombudsman’s services,” said an senior airline official requesting anonymity.