50 passengers face the heat in Ludhiana after AI cancels flight

› For the 4.30pm flight, initially we were told that it was delayed by two hours. The cancellation was announced about 8pm. SANJIV SONI, Ludhiana industrialist

LUDHIANA: More than 50 passengers were a harried lot after Air India cancelled its 4.30pm flight from the local Sahnewal airport to Delhi, after making them wait for around four hours. Airport authorities claim that the fiasco happened as the flight from Delhi itself was delayed and the same plane was to be used in this particular flight.

“By the time the plane from Delhi landed here and we were ready to take off, the sun had set. Due to safety reasons, we could not have taken off after sunset. Hence, we had to reschedule the flight,” said Sahnewal airport director AN Sharma.

Sharma also refuted claims of some passengers that during the long wait for the aircraft, they were not even provided water and made to sweat it out with no power supply in waiting rooms.

Meanwhile, Sanjiv Soni, a Ludhiana-based industrialist, who was going to Delhi for a meeting with Chinese suppliers on Tuesday, said, “For the 4.30pm flight, initially we were told that the flight was delayed by two hours. Finally, they allowed the passengers for checking in at 6.30am after the flight from Delhi landed at the airport. We boarded the plane at 6.35pm.”

He added that when the plane did not take off even till 7.15pm, passengers disembarked and went to the waiting area, where finally at 7.45pm, the airline finally announced the cancellation of the flight. “We have not been informed of the rescheduled timing as yet,” he said.

“Passengers will be informed of the schedule of the flight via text messages and calls. Those who want refund can also do so. The airline has arranged taxis and the stay of passengers in hotels also,” Sharma added.