Supriya Sule Slams Air India Over 3-Hour Delhi-Pune Flight Delay; Civil Aviation Minister, Airline Respond
Supriya Sule Slams Air India Over 3-Hour Delhi-Pune Flight Delay; Civil Aviation Minister, Airline Respond
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule raised concerns on social media over a delay of more than 3 hours on Air India flight AI 2971 from Delhi to Pune. In her post on X, she criticized the airline for providing no communication, no assistance, and poor service, saying passengers were “left stranded and helpless.” Sule appealed to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to intervene and hold the airline accountable.
The minister responded within 40 minutes, stating that he had spoken to the airline and airport authorities, instructing them to urgently address the concerns of all affected passengers.
Air India, replying to both the minister and Sule, acknowledged the issue and said that all impacted travellers were being assisted. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.
The delay adds to the recent challenges faced by Air India, which is still dealing with operational disruptions following the tragic crash of flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad last week that claimed at least 271 lives. The airline is reportedly conducting intensive safety checks on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, leading to more delays and flight cancellations. Passengers are advised to stay updated on schedules and contact customer care if needed.
