Air India Pilot Refuses to Fly After Emergency Landing of London- Delhi Flight at Jaipur

JAIPUR: A pilot of an Air India flight traveling from London to Delhi refused to continue flying the plane after it made an emergency landing in Jaipur due to adverse weather conditions. The pilot cited flight duty time limitations and duty hours as the reason for his refusal, leaving approximately 350 passengers stranded at the Jaipur airport for about three hours.

Originally scheduled to arrive in Delhi at around 4 am, flight AI-112 was redirected to Jaipur as the weather conditions worsened at Delhi Airport. The aircraft circled in the sky for approximately 10 minutes before the decision was made to divert it to Jaipur for the safety of the passengers and crew.

After waiting for about two hours at Jaipur airport, the flight, along with a few other diverted flights, received clearance from the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) to proceed to Delhi. However, the pilot, citing flight duty time limitations, declined to continue the flight and disembarked from the aircraft.

This unexpected development left around 350 passengers stranded at the airport, unsure of how to reach their destination. Air India had to quickly arrange alternative arrangements for the passengers. After about three hours, some of the passengers were transported to Delhi by road, while others were able to continue their journey to Delhi on the same flight after a replacement crew was arranged.

In response to the incident, Air India issued an official statement explaining the situation. According to the airline, flight AI112 was diverted to Jaipur at 4 am due to inclement weather and poor visibility in Delhi. While the aircraft was waiting for the weather in Delhi to improve and for takeoff clearance, the cockpit crew exceeded their Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which are regulations set by the authorities governing flight operations. Pilots are not permitted to operate a flight once they come under the FDTL.

Air India emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew is of utmost importance and that they strictly adhere to operational regulations. In order to ensure the safety and continuation of the journey, the airline promptly arranged a fresh set of crew members to operate the flight.

The incident highlights the importance of adhering to flight duty time limitations and ensuring the well-being and alertness of pilots and crew members. While this situation caused inconvenience and delay for the passengers, their safety and adherence to aviation regulations were prioritized by Air India. With the replacement crew in place, the flight was eventually able to continue its journey to Delhi, bringing relief to the stranded passengers.

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