Airline passengers have expressed their frustration after a flight from Mumbai to Phuket on Friday, September 13, was forced to divert to Penang due to bad weather. But it wasn’t the actual diversion they were unhappy about… it’s what happened in Penang that caused all the fuss.
The flight operated by the Indian carrier IndiGo, was initially due to land in Phuket at 9.30am, but instead diverted to Penang, landing on the island at 11am Malaysian time. It’s understood the complaints were not due to the diversion itself, but the distressing experience endured by passengers on landing.
VIDEO: YouTube/NDTV Profit
According to a report from the Indian news outlet NDTV Profit, the airline involved, IndiGo, did not have the necessary permissions to land in Penang, which meant passengers were not allowed to disembark and the aircraft was stranded on the tarmac for 5 hours.
Passengers have complained that the toilets were clogged and they received no food or water during their ordeal. Some passengers say that while the aircraft had run out of drinking water, some food was available – but only if they were willing to pay for it.
Eventually, the flight was cleared to take off again and landed in Phuket later the same day. The airline says the diversion was necessary to ensure the safety of passengers, adding that they were provided with refreshments.
“In response to adverse weather conditions in Phuket, the flight operating from Mumbai to Phuket, has been diverted to Penang, Malaysia, the nearest airport. This diversion, despite having no direct IndiGo connections, was carried out as a necessary precaution to ensure the safety of the passengers. Passengers have been fully informed of the unexpected detour. In the meantime, refreshments have been provided to ensure their comfort.”
SOURCE: NDTV Profit
