SHANKUMUGHAM: Air India flight to Thiruvananthapuram was delayed for nine hours in Delhi which left the passengers stranded. The flight was scheduled to take off from New Delhi's IGI airport at 9:45 pm on Saturday and the arrival in Thiruvananthapuram was expected at 12:30 am.

From what learned, it was the unavailability of pilots which stymied the travel. It was only after a massive protest from passengers that Air India officials revealed the reason. The largest airline in India also failed to provide accommodation and food service to its 175 stranded passengers. Mothers and children including toddlers were affected by the appalling treatment. All passengers were forced to stay inside the airport premises for nine long hours with no respite or accommodation.

The stranded ones also included international travelers, who favored a connecting flight from Delhi to reach Thiruvananthapuram. After the initial talks of protest, the officials promised to resume travel in 1 hour's time. However, the delay continued, and this was when Air India officials opened up about the unavailability of pilots. The news was informed to the passengers at 1 am. According to the rules, if the delay is confirmed before 12 am, the airline service should mandatorily provide accommodation to passengers. Thus the passenger accuse the officials of shrewdness, as they informed of the delay only at 1 am, to sheepishly escape from providing accommodation facilities.

Congress MLA P C Vishnunath was one among the stranded passengers. The congressman showed his disapproval of India's elite air carriers' treatment of passengers. Yesterday, a flight from Mumbai to Kozhikode got delayed after the pilot unknowingly dozed off into a siesta inside the waiting room.