Muscat flyer almost takes off for Mumbai

THE INCIDENT, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON DEC 15, RESULTED IN THE SUSPENSION OF TWO AIR INDIA STAFFERS

A routine in-flight announcement informing passengers about their flight path saved an Air India passenger bound for Muscat from travelling to Mumbai instead.

The incident, which occurred at New Delhi airport’s Terminal 3 on December 15, resulted in delaying the Mumbai flight for over an hour and in the suspension of two members of Air India’s ground staff, sources in the airline said on Friday.

After issuing the passenger a boarding card for AI 973 to Muscat, the airline mistakenly allowed him to board AI 24 to Mumbai, which was scheduled to depart around the same time from a nearby gate.

The passenger, who realised he was on the wrong flight after the in-flight announcement, immediately alerted the crew. The plane, which was on the taxiway by then, had to be turned back to drop him at the terminal. The flyer still managed to make the Muscat flight, which, fortunately for him, was running 30 minutes late. “The passenger had boarded AI 24, which was moving towards the runway for take-off. When the routine announcement was made, the passenger informed the crew that he was in the wrong plane.

“The flight was stopped because he had a boarding pass for AI 973 to Muscat,” said the Air India source.

The Mumbai flight, which was to depart at 8pm, finally took off at 9pm, while the Muscat-bound flight, which was to depart at 8.20pm, departed at 8.50pm.

“Boarding cards have a bar code, but on that day the scanner was not working. I

deally, the staff should have checked the boarding card carefully, but it seems it was not checked.

What complicated matter further was that seat assigned to him for the Muscat flight was vacant in the Mumbai flight as well,” the source added.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the mix-up and said that two employees at the Delhi airport had been suspended.