Akasa Air Passengers Endure Seven-Hour Ordeal on Mumbai to Goa Flight

A Seven-Hour Ordeal

Akasa Air flight QP 1301 faced a crisis. The flight left Mumbai for Goa late. A 50-minute trip took seven hours. Over 100 passengers were on board. The delay started at Terminal 1. It was a very long night. Passengers expected a very quick hop. Instead, they waited until after midnight.

Crew Scheduling Failures

The main cause was crew scheduling. Poor planning led to many issues. First, the first officer timed out. He hit his duty time limits. These rules are set by the DGCA. They ensure pilots are well rested. Safety is the top priority here. The airline failed to swap crew. This caused a major domino effect.

The Taxiway Return

The situation got much worse later. Boarding finally began at 9:00 PM. The plane taxied to the runway. Then, the pilot stopped the plane. The captain had also timed out. The aircraft returned to the gate. Passengers were forced to wait again. This move caused significant passenger unrest. People were stuck inside the cabin.

Impact on Travelers

Many travelers were tired and hungry. The airline served small snack boxes. One water bottle was also given. This was not enough for families. Senior citizens faced a hard time. Children were crying and very restless. Some passengers became quite unruly. They demanded answers from the staff. The ground crew struggled to help.

Regulatory Standards

The IATA sets global safety standards. In India, the DGCA monitors airlines. Airlines must follow strict duty rules. These are called Flight Duty Time Limitations. They prevent pilot fatigue and errors. Airlines must also provide passenger care. This includes meals and timely updates. Failure can lead to heavy fines.

Broader Industry Context

Indian aviation faces high growth now. Airlines struggle to find enough pilots. Akasa Air is growing very fast. This growth puts pressure on schedules. Other airlines face similar staff issues. Congestion at Mumbai airport adds stress. One small delay ruins the day. The system has very little margin.

Airline Response

Akasa Air issued a formal statement. They apologized for the long delay. The airline cited progressive operational issues. A fresh crew was eventually found. The flight took off at 12:30 AM. It landed in Goa at 1:30 AM. The carrier promised to improve service. They are reviewing their scheduling process.

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