2 Air India flights from Pune to New Delhi were cancelled for two successive days due to technical issues
Two Air India flights from Pune to New Delhi were cancelled for two successive days due to unspecified technical issues following which passengers were shifted to another flight this evening.
While Air India had to cancel AI 854 yesterday due to "technical glitches", the new aircraft sent to the Pune airport to ferry the passengers at 3 pm today could not take off again due to unspecified technical issues and hence the passengers were adjusted in another flight which took off at 7.30 pm.
The airline did not offer any other explanation for the cancellations.
The flight had 25 passengers on board.
In a statement Air India said this evening that "Flight no AI854 from Pune to Delhi scheduled for October 1 at 3 pm was delayed due to technical reason. Flight AI850 with passengers on board is ready to depart today at 7.30 pm ".
Pune Airport Director Ajay Kumar said due to technical snag, they (airline) did not operate the flight yesterday but today the airline tried to operate the flight.
"However, after pilot again found a technical snag and while taking the flight back, smoke was seen, the passengers were immediately disembarked," he said.
Mr Kumar said the incident happened at 3.40 pm after which the runway was blocked for one hour.
"Due to this, two flights - Goa-Pune and Kochi-Pune, both Spicejet flights were diverted to Mumbai," he said.