Jaipur, July 7
Air India flight AI 926, operating from Riyadh to Delhi, was diverted to Jaipur International Airport late Sunday night due to adverse weather conditions in the national capital.
The flight was originally scheduled to land at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) at around 1 am on July 7. However, inclement weather in Delhi forced the aircraft to be rerouted to Jaipur.
According to sources, after the landing at Jaipur, passengers were offered alternative flight options to reach Delhi. However, they opted for road transportation instead. The passengers have since disembarked and departed from Jaipur to Delhi by road.
Earlier on July 4, an Air India flight from Bengaluru to Delhi was delayed after a medical emergency involving one of its pilots. Flight AI2414 was set to depart on schedule, but the rostered pilot fell ill just before takeoff and was immediately taken to a local hospital.
In a statement, an Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying, '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, which he was rostered for, and was taken to a local hospital immediately.
The airline assured that the pilot is now in stable condition and remains under the care of medical professionals.
He is currently stable but continues to be under the supervision of doctors at the same hospital, the spokesperson added.
To minimize disruption, the airline arranged for another cockpit crew member to operate the flight.
'Consequently, AI2414 was delayed and operated by another member of our cockpit crew', the statement noted.
Air India said its immediate focus is on the well-being of the pilot and providing support to his family. 'Our immediate priority is to assist the pilot and his family to ensure his speedy recovery', the spokesperson said.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 03:05 am, was delayed and eventually took off at 04:52 am after another pilot was arranged. It landed in Delhi at 07:21 am, nearly 90 minutes behind the scheduled arrival time of 05:55 am, according to Flightradar24.Earlier in the day, Air India denied allegations of coercing families of victims of the AI-171 accident into signing documents about their financial dependency on the deceased to reduce compensation payouts.
In a detailed statement, the airline called the claims "unsubstantiated and inaccurate."The controversy surfaced following reports that some of the bereaved families were being compelled to disclose financial ties to their deceased loved ones--allegedly as a prerequisite for receiving compensation.
However, the airlines clarified that the request for such information was part of a standard process to ensure that interim compensation reached the rightful beneficiaries promptly.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Delhi's monsoon weather is becoming so unpredictable these days 😓. Last week my flight was delayed by 3 hours too. At least they landed safely in Jaipur - pink city must have been a beautiful sight from above at night!
The pilot health incident is concerning. Airlines need better health monitoring for crew members. Imagine if this happened mid-flight! Kudos to the backup pilot who stepped in though - unsung heroes of aviation.
As an expat in India, I must say Air India's response to both situations seems professional. Weather diversions happen worldwide, and medical emergencies are unpredictable. The important thing is everyone's safety was prioritized.
The road journey from Jaipur to Delhi at night must have been exhausting for passengers. Why didn't Air India arrange proper accommodation and morning flights instead? This is where our airlines lag behind international standards.
Monsoon travel in India is always an adventure! 😄 Last year my Goa flight was diverted to Mumbai. At least Jaipur airport has good facilities. Hope the passengers got to taste some delicious Rajasthani food during their unexpected stop!
The compensation controversy mentioned at the end is worrying. Airlines must be transparent in such sensitive matters. Grieving families shouldn't have to fight for
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.