Passengers change three aircraft to reach Delhi

How many Airbus A321 aircraft does it take to fly 140 passengers? Answer: Three.
Passengers of Air India's (AI) Mumbai-Delhi flight went through a change of three aircraft and a delay of three hours before finally making it to Delhi on Friday evening.

On May 8, AI's Mumbai-Delhi Flight IC 168 left Mumbai airport at 5.38 pm with 140 passengers. However, the A321 aircraft returned within 20 minutes after a bird hit the left engine. The passengers were shifted to another A321 aircraft. But while loading food on to the aircraft through the front door, the catering service provider, Taj-SATS, damaged the front door. "The container was on the elevator and hit the door while being lifted," said an AI official.

The passengers were moved to yet another A321. Then a passenger refused to fly. "A middle-aged woman said she would reach Delhi late and would not find transport," said the official, "We offered her transport but she refused. She was offloaded and her baggage removed, which took time.”

It was 8.50 pm when the flight, with 139 harried passengers, finally departed.

The AI spokesperson has confirmed the events.