Air India officials announced that the airline will provide a one-time waiver on date/flight changes from September 7 to 11. Similar to this, IndiGo will also provide consumers the choice of taking the readjusted flights or getting a refund, according to its executives.
Flight commuters flying to and from Delhi are most likely to experience travelling-related issues from September 8 to 10 due to G20 Summit’s VVIP arrival’s heavy movement which will certainly cause delays in take-off and landing, official sources informed on Monday. Additionally, a number of flights including some international ones, will experience delays during the Summit days. According to official sources, over 150 flights have been cancelled.
How many flights were cancelled?
In late August, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson told ANI, “So far, we have received requests for cancellation of approximately 80 departing and 80 arriving domestic flights over 3 days, respectively.”
“The biggest impact on flight movements will be on Friday, when dignitaries from various countries will fly into the city, and on Sunday, when they will depart IGI Airport,” an official said.
Another official further informed that all dignitaries will be given the VVIP treatment and regulations will be adhered respectively, “A separation of around 2,000 nautical miles of their aircraft will be maintained from other civil aircraft. They will also be given priority landing which may cause delays in the civil aircraft movements,” the officials informed.
Flight UK725 from Delhi to Bagdogra was taking off from the newly inaugurated runway and the Vistara flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi, after landing on a parallel runway, was moving towards the end of the runway
Major mishap averted at Delhi airport as Vistara planes get clearance for take off, landing at same time
A major mishap was averted at the Delhi airport on Wednesday morning after two Vistara planes were given permission for landing and take-off at the same time.. The take-off was aborted after instructions from Air Traffic Controller (ATC).
Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered a probe into the incident.
Flight UK725 from Delhi to Bagdogra was taking off from the newly inaugurated runway and the Vistara flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi, after landing on a parallel runway, was moving towards the end of the runway. “Both were given permission at the same time but ATC took control immediately. The ATC (Air Traffic Control) officer on duty asked Vistara flight to abort take-off,” an official, who was aware of the developments, told ANI. An alert pilot alerted ATC and take-off of the second aircraft was aborted, sources told India Today.
DGCA has derostered air traffic controller for the runway incursion incident at Delhi airport, an official told India Today.
Delhi-Bagdogra flight returned to the parking bay from the active runway immediately after take-off was aborted. Officials said it was refuelled to ensure that the plane had enough fuel to return to Delhi if the pilot encountered bad weather conditions at Bagdogra. The braking system was also checked, they said. According to airport officials, if the flight taking off was not stopped at the right time, a major accident could have happened.
According to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), no aircraft or vehicle movement is allowed during the process of take-off and landing. Sources said passengers became a little apprehensive when the pilot of the flight bound for Bagdogra announced that the plane will not take off due to instructions from ATC.
Senior pilot and founder of Safety Matters Foundation, Capt Amit Singh said that flight operations “from closely spaced runways require enhanced monitoring and stricter compliance with SOPs to avoid a potential traffic collision due to the proximity of the flight path”. “Normally a take-off clearance is not issued to an aircraft on one runway unless the aircraft on the second runway has landed,” he said.
A London-Delhi Air India flight made an emergency landing in Jaipur due to bad weather, and the pilot refused to fly it because of the delay. About 350 passengers were left stranded at the Jaipur airport for 5 hours and had to make alternative arrangements to reach Delhi.
The Air India flight landed in Jaipur due to bad weather conditions in Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: Representative Image)
A pilot of an Air India flight flying from London to Delhi, refused to fly the plane after it made an emergency landing in Jaipur due to bad weather conditions on Sunday. He cited flight duty time limitations and duty hours as the reason for his refusal.
Around 350 passengers, who had to seek alternative arrangements to reach Delhi, were stranded at the Jaipur airport for about three hours due to the pilot’s refusal.
The flight AI-112, originally scheduled to arrive in Delhi at approximately 4 am, was diverted to Jaipur as the weather conditions worsened at Delhi Airport. It circled in the sky for about 10 minutes before being diverted to Jaipur.
After about two hours, the London-bound flight received clearance to resume its journey to Delhi from the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC), along with some other flights that were also diverted to Jaipur.
The pilot, however, declined to continue the flight and disembarked.
About 350 passengers, who were consequently stranded at the airport, were asked to look for alternative arrangements. After about three hours, some of them were transported to Delhi by road, while others were able to proceed to Delhi on the same flight after a replacement crew was arranged.
However, Air India, in its official statement, responded by saying that the London-Delhi AI112 flight was diverted to land at Jaipur at 4 am due to inclement weather and poor visibility in Delhi.
“While the aircraft was waiting for Delhi weather to improve and take off, the cockpit crew came under FDTL, that is Flight Duty Time Limitations. Pilots cannot operate a flight once they come under the FDTL, as laid down by regulatory authorities. Air India accords top priority to safety of its passengers and crew and strictly adhering to the operations regulations, immediately arranged a fresh set of crew to operate the flight,” said the airline.
