Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday criticised Air India after missing the flight, claiming he reached the airport ahead of the scheduled departure time.
The Minister said he was at the airport at 12.30 p.m. to catch the flight, which was to depart at 1.15 p.m. but told it had been delayed because the pilot had not yet come.
After waiting for half an hour, the Minister returned home. By the time he came back to the airport, the flight had departed.
“I had to travel to Hyderabad by Air India AI544... was told (it was) on time.. reached airport by 1230,” Naidu tweeted.
“Was informed at 1315 that flight was delayed as the pilot had not yet come. Waited up to 1345, boarding didn’t start. Returned home.”
“Air India should explain how such things are happening. Transparency and accountability are the need of the hour. Hope Air India understands that we are in the age of competition. Missed an important appointment.”
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju responded quickly to Naidu’s tweet and said he has ordered a probe into the incident.
“Service disruptions are unacceptable and have to be eliminated. Have asked AI (Air India) to enquire and take action on priority,” Raju said.
As per a statement issued by Air India the pilot was stuck in a traffic jam because of which he could not report on time for the flight.
“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused due to flight delay. The pilot was stuck in traffic jam. Enquiry has been ordered,” Air India said.
The Hyderabad bound flight finally took off from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2.28 pm, a little more than an hour late from its scheduled departure.