Air India to refund full ticket price to all passengers affected by Delhi-SF flight diversion

Air India has announced that it will refund the full amount to all passengers who were affected by the diversion of its Delhi-San Francisco flight on June 6 due to a mid-air glitch. In a communication from Air India’s Chief Customer Experience and Ground Handling Officer, Rajesh Dogra, the airline assured the passengers, who faced a 56-hour delay, that they would receive a full fare refund along with a voucher for future travel on Air India.

The flight, AI 173, carrying 216 passengers and 16 crew members, was diverted to Magadan, Russia, after encountering an engine issue. Following the incident, Air India organized a ferry flight from Mumbai to Magadan to bring back the stranded passengers and crew members to San Francisco.

The airline expressed regret for the disruption and inconvenience caused to the passengers and sincerely apologized for the extended delay in reaching their destination. Air India emphasized that safety was their highest priority and the decision to land in Magadan was made out of caution due to low oil pressure indication in one engine.

Despite the limited facilities in Magadan, the airline acknowledged the efforts of their local agents and crew in providing assistance to the passengers and appreciated their understanding of the challenging circumstances.

This incident has led to concerns from the affected passengers regarding accommodation issues during their stranded period in Russia, which are currently being addressed by Air India.

-B