(a) whether passengers were held up for 20 hours on the Air India flight from Delhi to New
york as reported in Dainik Jagaran on February 28, 2008;
(b) if so, the details and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has investigated the exact cause of delay due to which plane could
not fly in time;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to avoid such a situation in future?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION(SHRI PRAFUL PATEL)
(a), (b), (c) & (d): Yes,Sir.The Air India`s flight AI-111 of 27.2.2008 on Delhi-London-New
York route had to be rescheduled from 0720 hours to 0255 hours on 28.2.2008.Though the
aircraft was ready,a combination of factors like fuel spillage,behaviour of some recalcitrant
passengers,off-loading of a medical case,Flight Duty Time Limitation(FDTL) of pilots and
night curfew at London airport led to this rescheduling.
(e): Fuel spillage at the time of aircraft fueling is not an unusual occurrence in the airline
industry.Air India have been advised to deal firmly with troublesome passengers,including
exploring recourse to legal action,so that the other passengers are not made to suffer.