Snag in airconditioning system ‘chokes’ flyers aboard Tiruchy-S’pore aircraft

Thiruchirapalli

The Air India Express flight scheduled for Singapore at 4.10 pm on Sunday was getting ready for take off with 115 passengers on board when suddenly, some flyers felt suffocated. They immediately informed the crew who alerted the pilots.

Subsequently, the pilots inspected the equipment and found a snag in the airconditioning system of the flight. The passengers were advised to alight and asked to wait in the airport. However, even after midnight, officials failed to make alternate arrangements leading to a protest by the passengers in the airport premises. Later, they were taken to a hotel and the aircraft was sent to Chennai for fixing the technical snag. However, even in Chennai, the fault was not rectified and the aircraft was directed to go to Thiruvananthapuram, sources said.

Meanwhile, a group of passengers cancelled their travel plans as they were not given a prompt response by the Air India officials. On Monday, another aircraft arrived from Singapore and the stranded passengers were sent away in it. Sources in the Tiruchy airport said such issues were common.