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The Wire
13-07-2025
- The Wire
Left High and Dry: A First Hand Account From an AI 103 Aborted In Vienna
Society Annie Mathew Mathew John a few seconds ago After the New Delhi-Washington flight was aborted in Vienna, we passengers – mostly seniors – endured much physical and mental pressure. atmanirbhar considerations, but for the simple reason that we are on its attractive 'frequent flyer' programme and hope someday to log up a few free rides amidst the travails of travelling by the national carrier. So, as usual, we confirmed our booking by AI 103 scheduled to leave New Delhi at 12:45 am on July 2 and routed via Vienna to reach Washington Dulles at 11:15 am on the same day, a 19-hour journey that began smoothly. The turbulence hit upon landing in Vienna at 6:30 am local time for routine refuelling. Soon after, the local ground engineers came on board, bustling about between the cockpit and the underwing. At around 8:15 am, we got the first announcement from the cabin supervisor that the plane was still being refuelled. She regurgitated the same bulletin every once in a while. This charade went on till about 10:45 am, when the captain made the big announcement that the flight was being aborted due to technical problems. Even as our hearts sank in dismay, we couldn't help but chuckle at his unintended ghoulish humour. He ended his apology by stating that though the plane was functional, a decision was taken not to risk flying over the Atlantic due to the 'intermittent problem'! He seemed to suggest that we were lucky to come this far and should be thankful for the cancellation of the onward flight! Consider the following: of the 200-odd passengers on board, the majority were senior citizens, a fair sprinkling of whom were wheelchair-bound. As the plane was parked in the service area, the old and the infirm who could still walk without assistance – including the two of us – had to negotiate the steep aircraft stairs while clutching onto our hand baggage. At the passenger terminal, we were herded together and subjected to the most rigorous security check – our belts, shoes and even our boarding passes put through the scanner. Thereafter, we were escorted by the surly armed police who commanded us to walk in step, rudely pulling up those who were unable to keep pace or strayed away. We were made to walk an interminable distance to the third floor and then down to the ground floor to an earmarked waiting area – G 76 – which operated as the main internment centre – our Gulag – for the next two days. There we were greeted by three Air India personnel who did what they could to assuage our anger. But what one noticed was that they got no support from the higher Air India management and were helpless in the face of the hostile, unhelpful and racist attitude of the Austrian airport and police personnel. The Air India manager indicated that 100 rooms were being organised for our stay in a nearby hotel and he would arrange for all passengers to be booked on various flights to Washington DC the next day. However, at about 5 pm, he informed us that the hotel was willing to provide only 25 rooms. There followed further arguments and complaints. We were among the lucky 55 passengers who got hotel accommodation, whereas the rest had to make do, in Dharamshala style, with makeshift beds provided in the G 76 waiting area. Those of us in the NH hotel that was a kilometre away were given peremptory orders to stay in our rooms, with even the in-house restaurant being out of bounds. We, vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, were all served a sparse non-vegetarian platter. The vegetarians went to bed hungry. As the checked baggage was kept in safe custody beyond the reach of passengers, many had to manage without their medicine and cope with the same set of clothes the next day. At 2:47 am on July 3, we received a message from Air India that the two of us had been booked on an Austrian Airlines flight at 10:50 am on the morning of July 4. We were hopping mad that our departure had been put back by another day, but when we got the gory details of the crazy travel arrangements made by Air India for other passengers, we realised that we were among the few lucky ones. Barring a handful who managed to fly out to Washington DC on July 3, most other passengers were denied direct flights to Washington DC, and were instead randomly routed via Dubai, Doha, Istanbul and Chicago on the July 4 and 5. Clearly, the higher Air India management had left us high and dry! Despite our revised booking being for July 4, we were all ordered to vacate the hotel on the morning of July 3, again escorted out like criminals and after yet another rigorous security check taken to G 76. On the evening of July 3, again we were put through the tiresome drill of fighting for hotel rooms and deciding who would be accommodated. The sheer physical and mental pressure took its toll on most of us. Everyone vowed never to travel by Air India ever again! Air India couldn't have done worse, but could it have done better? We have damning evidence to prove that if one had contacts 'in the right places', one could get a great deal. An elderly fellow passenger who is highly diabetic and had run out of medicine was initially booked on a flight to Washington DC via Doha on July 4, which meant that he would reach his final destination only on July 5. Distraught, he spoke to a close relative who works with the high and mighty in Delhi and sought his help. Within an hour of his call, the local Air India manager informed him that he was booked on a direct flight to Washington DC on the evening of July 3 itself to reach DC the same night. As has rightly been said, where there is a will… But clearly, the Air India management was indifferent to our plight! We reached Washington in the late hours of July 4, but our checked-in baggage was delivered only on July 6. But that's not all! Even as we struggled to cope with the terrible situation in Vienna, our distraught daughter in Washington DC sent an SOS email to Air India about our plight, pleading with the airline to bail us out. The final response of Air India to her cry for help was staggering in its criminal callousness and deceit. In an email dated July 7, Air India stated that the diversion to Vienna 'was caused due to Iran airspace closure, a situation that is beyond the airline's control', further adding that in such cases compensation was not applicable. Not even a word of apology for the pain inflicted on the hapless passengers! Moreover, far from being unforeseen, the stopover in Vienna was planned in the aftermath of Pakistan closing its airspace following Operation Sindoor and had nothing to do with Iran's airspace closure. What does all this say of Air India's concern for their passengers? It hurts to think that when Air India was taken over by the Tatas in 2022, we were cock-a-hoop that Air India would soon be transformed into the world's premier carrier. Instead, it is now an international pariah airline. In recent months there have reportedly been other cases of Air India flights being aborted or detained due to technical problems – an unacceptable rate of failure by international standards. Is Air India in terminal decline, able to be turned around only by a miracle? Mathew John is a former civil servant. Annie Mathew is an author. The views are personal. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Mint
04-07-2025
- Mint
Air India pilot collapses moments before flying Delhi-bound plane in Bengaluru, airline says ‘in hospital but stable'
An Air India Delhi-bound flight was delayed in the early hours of July 4 after the pilot collapsed shortly before take-off and was rushed to the hospital in Bengaluru, an Air India spokesperson said. Flight AI2414 from Bengaluru to Delhi was delayed and operated by another member of the airlines cockpit crew, the spokesperson said. The pilot is stable but is still under observation in the hospital, the spokesperson added. 'There was a medical emergency involving one of our pilots in the early hours of 04 July. As a result, the pilot was unable to operate the flight AI2414 from Bengaluru to Delhi, that he was rostered for, and was taken to a local hospital immediately,' the spokesperson said. A PTI report quoting sources said that the pilot was in the cockpit and was about to sign the mandatory documents – tech log – to accept the aircraft for flying when he collapsed there. 'He is currently stable but continues to be under the supervision of doctors at the same hospital. Consequently, AI2414 was delayed and operated by another member of our cockpit crew. Our immediate priority is to assist the pilot and his family to ensure his speedy recovery,' the statement added. Air India cancelled its New Delhi to Washington DC flight on Wednesday after a technical issue during a routine stopover in Vienna led to extended maintenance work, an airline spokesperson said. According to an ANI report, the onward Vienna-Washington segment was cancelled, and all passengers were disembarked in Vienna. The disruption also led to the cancellation of the return flight AI104 from Washington, DC to Delhi via Vienna. Air India stated that affected passengers have been rebooked on alternate services or offered full refunds, depending on their preferences. "Flight AI103 from Delhi to Washington, DC on 2 July 2025 made a planned fuel stop in Vienna. During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion," an airline spokesperson said in a statement. "Due to this, the Vienna to Washington, DC leg was cancelled, and passengers were disembarked. Passengers eligible for visa-free entry or those with valid Schengen visas were provided with hotel accommodations in Vienna until the next available flight. For those without entry permission, accommodations are being arranged, pending immigration and security clearances by Austrian authorities. Consequently, flight AI104 from Washington, DC, to Delhi via Vienna was also cancelled, and the affected passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their preferences," the airline added. (With inputs from agencies)
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Air India terminates Delhi-Washington flight in Vienna, cancels return flight
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel An Air India flight from Delhi to Washington, which took off on July 2, could not complete its journey after it developed a technical glitch during a scheduled refuelling stopover in Vienna, the Tata Group-owned airline said on its return flight from Washington to Delhi, scheduled on July 2, was also late, frequent delays and cancellations of long-haul flights by Air India have been causing severe inconvenience to to Air India statement, "Flight AI103 from Delhi to Washington, D.C. on July 2 made a planned fuel stop in Vienna. During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion."The airline further said as Vienna to Washington leg was cancelled, alternative arrangements were made for the stranded eligible for visa-free entry or those with valid Schengen visas were provided hotel accommodations in Vienna until the next available flight, as per the passengers without Schengen visas, accommodation was arranged, in liaison with immigration and security clearances by Austrian authorities, while others were rebooked on alternative flights, Air India said in the airline said the passengers of the Washington-Delhi flight AI104 via Vienna were also rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their to the closure of Pakistan airspace, west-bound flights from India are taking a longer route, requiring a halt in Vienna to meet crew duty and rest period an Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, in which over 250 people were killed onboard and on the ground, aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered enhanced safety inspection of the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet powered by GEnx engines. PTI
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Air India Delhi-Washington Dreamliner flight grounded in Vienna over maintenance issue
NEW DELHI: An Air India Dreamliner flight from Delhi to Washington DC was grounded in Vienna on July 2 after a maintenance issue was detected during a scheduled stopover, forcing the airline to cancel both onward and return journeys. Flight AI103, a Boeing 787-8 flight, departed from Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1 am on Wednesday and had a planned fuel stop at Vienna at 6.35 am (local time). During enhanced pre-flight safety checks taking place in light of the Ahmedabad plane crash, a maintenance issue was detected resulting in cancellation of the trip from that point. An Air India statement said, 'Flight AI103 from Delhi to Washington, DC on 2 July made a planned fuel stop in Vienna. During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion. Due to this, the Vienna to Washington DC leg was cancelled, and passengers were disembarked.' Passengers eligible for visa-free entry or those with valid Schengen visas were provided hotel accommodation in Vienna until the next available flight, it said. For those without entry permission, accommodation is being arranged, pending immigration and security clearances by Austrian authorities, the statement added. 'Consequently, flight AI104 from Washington, DC, to Delhi via Vienna was also cancelled, and the affected passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their preferences,' the statement said. The statement said that despite all efforts from its side, certain flights get delayed or cancelled due to extraneous factors such as the closure of certain airspaces, nighttime curfew at several airports in Europe and East Asia, air traffic congestion and unforeseen operational issues. 'We notify passengers ahead of time to reduce inconvenience in case of planned delays or cancellations, but sometimes, certain challenges lead to last-minute disruptions,' it added.
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Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Business Standard
Air India Delhi-US flight cancelled after snag during Vienna fuel stop
An Air India flight from Delhi to Washington, DC, was grounded and later cancelled in Vienna after a technical issue was discovered during a routine maintenance check, the airline said on Thursday. Flight AI103, which departed Delhi at 12:45 am on Wednesday and was scheduled to land in Washington by 8:45 pm on Thursday, made a planned fuel stop in the Austrian capital. During refuelling, engineers identified a fault requiring extended maintenance, leading to the cancellation of the onward leg. 'Flight AI103 from Delhi to Washington, DC, on July 2, 2025 made a planned fuel stop in Vienna. During routine aircraft checks, an extended maintenance task was identified, which required rectification before the next flight and, thus, additional time for completion,' an airline spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Vienna–Washington leg cancelled, passengers rerouted Following the incident, the Vienna–Washington leg was cancelled. Passengers holding valid Schengen visas or eligible for visa-free entry were accommodated in hotels. Others were assisted based on immigration and security clearance procedures by Austrian authorities. Air India also cancelled the return flight AI104 from Washington, DC, to Delhi via Vienna. 'Passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights to Delhi or offered full refunds based on their preferences,' the airline said. Air India cites safety as priority The airline expressed regret over the disruption and said it was acting in line with its voluntary enhanced pre-flight safety checks. 'The carrier deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and remains committed to prioritising the safety of all passengers and crew,' the spokesperson said. This comes in the wake of increased scrutiny over safety procedures after a London-bound Air India flight crashed seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, prompting the airline to announce stricter pre-flight inspections and a temporary service reduction. On June 14, another Air India flight to Vienna lost altitude shortly after take-off from Delhi, descending 900 feet mid-air. Both pilots involved have been taken off duty pending investigation.
