Fury as Air India jet stranded in London for nine hours
UK: Hundreds of air travellers were left stranded on Sunday
after an incoming Air India flight was grounded for nine hours at
London’s Gatwick Airport by a combination of fog and aviation rules.
Police were called onto the Boeing 777 jet as tempers frayed among
the 200 passengers after the airline prevented them from disembarking.
The flight from Ahmedabad via Mumbai was due to arrive at Heathrow,
London’s other major airport, at 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) but was
diverted to Gatwick due to fog.
The plane was unable to complete the 44-mile (70-kilometre)
cross-city journey as aviation law limits the length of time for which
flight crew are allowed to work in one shift.
A replacement crew was shuttled across the British capital, but
reportedly got lost in Gatwick Airport.
Rahul Joglekar, a BBC journalist who was on the flight, said people
became “very, very angry.”
“A group of passengers gathered close to the cockpit demanding an
explanation from the pilot, but the pilots still didn’t come out,” he
said.
Another passenger Jas Johal blasted the lack of refreshments on
board, saying “everyone was very hungry and there was no sign of any
food.”
A spokesman for Gatwick said that it had been Air India’s decision to
keep the passengers on board rather than arrange alternative transport
to Heathrow.
“The plane remained off the runway and kept in the vicinity of the
tarmac. The duty of care in those situations lies with the airline,” he
said.
One passenger said Air India gave the weary travellers a letter,
offering its “sincere apologies for any inconvenience,” when they
finally reached Heathrow shortly before 17:30.
AFP |