Air India San Francisco-Bengaluru Flight Delayed By 8 Hrs; Faulty Door Forces Take-Off Without Business Class

An Air India flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru on July 21 faced major trouble. It was delayed for eight hours due to a malfunctioning door in its business class section. The AI176 flight from SFO to Bengaluru via Kolkata was operating on a Boeing 777 aircraft.

Door Malfunctions On Air India’s San Francisco To Bengaluru Flight 

Around 160 passengers were outraged when Air India’s flight AI176 from San Francisco to Bengaluru via Kolkata took off eight hours behind schedule. As per a report by The New Indian Express, a malfunctioning door in the business class section of the Boeing 777 aircraft was the reason behind the delay. The technical issue caused major trouble before take-off. However, the airline reportedly misinformed passengers and told them that the delay was due to ongoing cleaning work in the aircraft.

Passengers told TNIE that the business and premium economy sections were cordoned off with tape before the plane finally took off at 5:45 am on July 22. Moreover, the airline reassigned many business flyers to economy after the faulty door forced it to shut down the business class section. Five of these flyers refused to travel in economy, so the airline left them behind. 

Also Read: Delhi-Mumbai Air India Express Flight, With 160 Passengers, Aborts Take Off Due To Technical Glitch

The Delay Caused Anxiety Among Flyers

This Air India flight was primarily carrying senior citizens returning from visits to their children in San Francisco. One passenger shared with TNIE that they were informed by the airline that the flight was delayed due to cleaning and that the departure might take longer than expected. Just before 5 am on July 22, the airline informed passengers about a technical issue with a door located near the business and premium economy sections. The crew allowed only economy class passengers to board. 

The passenger also mentioned that recent aviation incidents in the country had already made many travellers anxious. The news of the technical problem only added to their worry. Reportedly, the crew sealed off the affected seats in business class with tape to prevent access. Due to the delay, some passengers also missed their connecting flights to destinations such as Coimbatore, Chennai, and Madurai, causing further inconvenience. According to a senior pilot,  Delta Air Lines owned the aircraft and Air India operated it on lease. The aircraft in question has around 50 seats in business and premium economy, and 270 seats in economy class.

Also Read: Doha-Bound Air India Express Returns To Calicut 2 Hours After Takeoff Due To Technical Snag

Air India offered alternative travel or full refunds to the five passengers who refused to travel in economy class.

Cover Image Courtesy: Air India, Wikipedia/aeroprints