Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 16: The Air India Express flight AIE 814 from Dubai which had arrived on Friday was diverted to Kochi in the light of inclement weather here. On this occasion, passengers bound for the city by this flight protested against what they termed as apathy of Air India, at the runway there.

The flight, which was to land here at 4.45 am, had instead flown to Kochi where it touched down at 5.55 am. The passengers had to keep waiting for alternative arrangements inside the aircraft till 11 am. The passengers bound for the city complained that they were not provided with any facility at Kochi.

Several of the passengers had planned to celebrate Eid with their families early morning on Friday and they were furious about missing the occasion. They also claimed that the Air India staff had promised to take the flight back to Mangaluru within an hour but there was inordinate delay.The passengers also complained that air-conditioning inside the fight had been switched off. They stated that the air-conditioning system which was switched off was switched on after protest was held.

It is gathered that because of poor visibility, the flight could not land at the airport here. At Kochi too the crew was awaiting the climate to clear off before the flight could take off. Although the climate improved thereafter, the flight could not be operated as the duty hours of crew members came to an end. Air India Express had to get a new team of crew from Thiruvananthapuram for taking the aircraft back to Mangaluru, sources explained.

However, it is learnt that the passengers were served food at the aircraft after they refused to come to the arrival hall to have food and refresh themselves. It is also said that the passengers were provided the facility to get seated inside four buses which were stationed near the aircraft. Air India sources denied having switched off air-conditioning system as alleged.