Delay in Mangalore-Doha flight creates confusion; Air India clarifies hold-up due to operational reasons

Mangalore, June 9: The delayed take off of the Mangalore-Doha Air India flight at the Bajpe Airport, paved way for various speculation and rumours on Wednesday, May 9. However, Air India has brushed aside these rumours and has clarified that the delay took place due to 'operational reasons'.

The flight to Doha was supposed to take off at 9:35 am from Mangalore but due to a massive delay, it took off at about 1:45 pm, much to the discomfort of the passengers. The flight had come to Mangalore from Dubai early in the morning but owing to unfavourable weather conditions, it did not land at the Mangalore runway following which, it was taken to Calicut. The flight then flew back to Mangalore from Calicut, thereby causing the delay.

When asked about the hold-up, Chellam Prasad, Station Director, Air India Mangalore, speaking to Coastaldigest.com said “The weather conditions were reported to be unfavourable for landing early in the morning and the Airport authorities didn't allow us to land the aircraft then. The decision was of Airport authorities and not Air India. The flight was taken to Calicut and then brought back here following which the Doha flight got delayed due to operational reasons.”

Unavailability of the pilot being the cause for the delay was also being spoken of. When asked about it, Prasad said “The pilot who had flown the aircraft from Dubai had to be rested post landing at Mangalore. There are certain International standards concerning pilot fatigue, according to which, the pilots have to be given rest after they have flown for a particular number of hours. Therefore, that pilot had to be rested. We brought in another pilot from Mumbai who later carried out the duty of flying the aircraft to Doha,” she disclosed.

Expressing discontentment over the way a section of the media reported the entire episode, Prasad appealed that information be aired after verifying facts from the concerned authorities. “Air India is the authority and any information before being transmitted should be checked with it first. Spreading rumours is going to hurt a lot of people, especially after the major tragedy that took place recently. This is the time to take people into confidence,” she said.