The festive spirit of Diwali was dampened for over 250 passengers when Air India flight AI138, bound for New Delhi from Milan, was cancelled on Friday. This sudden cancellation stranded 256 passengers and 10 crew members, jeopardizing their Diwali celebrations. Air India attributed the disruption to a ‘mechanical problem’ necessitating an ‘extended technical requirement’ for the aircraft, reassuring that safety protocols guided the decision.
In response to the situation, Air India has provided hotel accommodation for all impacted individuals. Due to limited availability, some passengers were housed in hotels outside the immediate vicinity of the airport. The airline also took proactive steps to address a specific case involving a passenger whose visa was expiring, ensuring their onward travel on another carrier before the deadline. Air India expressed deep regret for the disruption and assured continued support for all affected passengers, including the provision of vegetarian meals.