Nightmare in The Skies: Over 100 Air India Passengers Stranded in Phuket For Nearly 80 Hours

New Delhi: Over 100 passengers on an Air India flight bound for New Delhi have been stranded in Phuket, Thailand, for nearly 80 hours due to repeated delays caused by technical issues. The flight that was scheduled to depart from Phuket to New Delhi on November 17 has been grounded for over three days.  Frustrated passengers have taken to social media to share their ordeal. The stranded passengers included elderly individuals and children.

Passengers reported that the flight was initially scheduled to depart for Delhi on the night of November 16. However, airline representatives informed them of a six-hour delay due to a technical fault. After hours of waiting at the airport, passengers were eventually asked to board the plane, only to be deboarded an hour later when the flight was cancelled.

The same aircraft was prepared for departure the following day, with assurances that the issue had been resolved. However, two-and-a-half hours into the flight, the plane returned to Phuket due to another technical fault. Since then, passengers have remained stranded in Phuket. 

Air India sources revealed that the aircraft was not operated on November 16 due to duty time limitations. "A technical issue arose on November 17 after the flight took off, necessitating an emergency landing," a source told.

The airline assured that passengers were provided accommodation. "Reimbursements will be issued, and several passengers have already returned home. Approximately 40 passengers remain in Phuket and are scheduled to depart this evening," the source added.