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Passengers of an Air India flight from Delhi to San Francisco were forced to endure a harrowing 16-hour delay, with some fainting inside the plane due to extreme heat.
The flight, AI 183, was originally scheduled to depart at 3 pm on May 30, 2024, but was delayed due to operational reasons.
Air India sources told NDTV that the flight was delayed "due to operational reasons" and that by the time the issue was resolved, flight duty time limitations kicked in.
A passenger, Suman Arora, claimed that an elderly woman fainted on the plane due to the extreme heat.
Other passengers posted visuals on social media showing people, including children, sitting on the floor and taking off their shoes.
The incident comes amid a severe heatwave in Delhi and other parts of the country.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued guidelines in January to handle chaotic situations after a huge rush was seen due to fog at Delhi airport.
The DGCA said that airlines may cancel flights that are likely to be delayed or "consequentially delayed" beyond three hours.
Air India has offered rescheduling and refund options to the passengers.
The airline's Twitter handle responded to complaints, saying their "team is actively working to address the delay."
Source: Air India Flight Rescheduled After 16-Hour Delay, Flier Narrates Ordeal