The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to Air India on Friday, citing violations of aviation regulations, with special mention of the passenger care issue during flight delays. Air India is directed to respond within three days or face potential enforcement action.
This notice comes hours after Air India passengers of a Delhi-San Francisco flight endured discomfort due to inadequate cooling in the cabin. The AI flight from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport was delayed for over 20 hours. Flight AI 183, originally slated to take off at 3:20 on Thursday, was rescheduled for Friday afternoon.
During the inordinate delay, the passengers were allegedly made to wait without proper air-conditioning, causing several flyers to faint. Reporting about the delay, a passenger took to X and said that it was only after some passengers fainted that the airline allowed others to exit the aircraft.
If there is a privatisation story that has failed it is @airindia @DGCAIndia AI 183 flight has been delayed for over 8 hours , passengers were made to board the plane without air conditioning, and then deplaned after some people fainted in the flight.This is inhuman! @JM_Scindia pic.twitter.com/86KpaOAbgb— Shweta Punj (@shwwetapunj) May 30, 2024
“Whereas, it has come to the notice of DGCA that flight Al-179 dated 24.05.2024 and flight Al-183 dated 30.05.2024 were inordinately delayed and passengers were put to discomfort due to insufficient cooling in the cabin. Further, repeated incidences of passengers being put to discomfort by M/s Air India in violation of various DGCA CAR provisions have come to notice,” the DGCA notice read.
“Whereas perusal of available information reveals that M/s Air India has violated the provisions of Para 3.4 and Para 3.8 of CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV on Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights. M/s Air India is time and again failing in taking due care of passengers and compliance of aforementioned CAR,” it added.
The DGCA further asked Air India “why enforcement action shall not be initiated against the airline for the aforesaid violation.” “The reply of M/s Air India should reach this office within 03 days from the date of issue of this notice, failing which, the matter would be processed ex-parte,” it added.
After the issue of the Air India flight delay was raised, Air India responded to the passenger’s post on the social media platform X on Thursday evening. “Dear Ms. Punj, we truly regret to note the disruptions. Please be rest assured that our team is actively working to address the delay and appreciate your ongoing support and understanding. We are also alerting our team to provide necessary assistance to the passengers,” the airline said.
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