‘Technical snag’ grounds Pune-Delhi Air India flight for hours, disrupting plans of over 150 passengers

According to a source in the airline, a technical snag, followed by a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued at the airport between 10 am and 11.30 am, contributed to the prolonged delay. India did not issue an official response despite a query sent by The Indian Express till the time of going to press.

Most passengers had reached the airport by 5 am. Boarding began around 7 am and was completed by 7.20 am. The aircraft started taxiing towards the runway at around 7.30 am but halted shortly after and returned to the bay.

“We were informed about a technical issue, but no detailed explanation was given. We remained seated inside the aircraft for a long time,” said a passenger. After some flyers protested, a few were allowed to deboard, while others chose to wait in the hope that the issue would be resolved. Around 9.30 am, the crew announced that all passengers would have to deboard the aircraft.

Passengers were asked to re-board around 12.20 pm, and the flight finally departed about 30 minutes later.

Another passenger, who requested anonymity, said the delay forced him to cancel his travel plans. “The whole purpose of going to Delhi was defeated. Many passengers missed connecting flights, important meetings and visa appointments,” he said.

According to sources, some passengers were compelled to book last minute tickets at high prices on other flights to reach Delhi on time.

The Indian Express reached out to an Air India spokesperson for a statement on the delay. This story will be updated if a statement is received.

Akasa Air passengers stranded for 11 hours

On January 17, more than 150 passengers were left stranded at Pune airport for nearly 11 hours after Akasa Air’s Pune–Ahmedabad flight QP-1509 faced repeated delays before being cancelled. The flight, scheduled to depart at 10.10 pm, was postponed multiple times amid changing boarding gates, causing confusion and distress, especially among senior citizens, women and infants.

Akasa Air cited operational constraints and crew duty-time limits, saying safety rules prevented operation. An additional flight operated the next morning.

Passengers, however, alleged poor communication, delayed refreshments and overcrowded hotel arrangements, raising concerns over passenger handling during disruptions.