Demanding an explanation from the airline, Naidu said, "Hope AI understands that we are in an age of competition. Transparency and accountability are the need of the hour. Missed an important appointment," he said.
Livid over having to miss an "important" appointment after the pilot of an Air India (AI) flight to Hyderabad did not turn up, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday took to twitter to castigate the state-run carrier, which has ordered an inquiry into the episode.
The urban development minister was to take a 1pm flight to make it for a Swachh Bharat meeting in Hyderabad. The pilot who was to fly him, however, got stuck in a traffic jam and was delayed by about 45 minutes. Naidu was forced to deplane and cancel the appointment. The flight finally took off after a delay of 1 hour 20 minutes.
Agitated by the unprofessional behaviour, Naidu took to twitter and slammed the government-run carrier. In a series of tweets, Naidu said, "I had to travel to Hyderabad by Air India AI544, which is to depart at 1315 Hrs... was told on time.. reached airport by 1230 Hrs. was informed at 1315hrs that flight was delayed as d pilot had not yet come. Waited up to 1345 Hrs, boarding didn't start. returned 2 home."
Demanding an explanation from the airline, Naidu said, "Hope AI understands that we are in an age of competition. Transparency and accountability are the need of the hour. Missed an important appointment," he said.
Meanwhile, the airline has issued an apology for the delay. In a statement, the national carrier said, "We deeply regret the inconvenience caused due to the flight delay. The pilot was stuck in a traffic jam."
Acting promptly on Naidu's complaint, civil aviation minister A Gajapathi Raju called for an investigation into the matter.
Reacting to the entire episode, a former CMD of the airline, who did not wish to be named, said delays like these happen all over the world and a pilot getting late because of a traffic jam is not a new phenomenon. "As airline, we need to be more alert and take this matter seriously. But delays like these happen all over the world. I think it will come out in the inquiry," he said.
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