VietJet Air has rescheduled a flight from an initial departure time of 01:00 am on Friday to 8:30 pm on the same day, citing operational reasons. Passengers on the affected flight and other flights experienced significant delays and discomfort.
One passenger, Pankaj Agrawal, described how the flight to Ho Chi Minh City was repeatedly delayed due to technical issues. Passengers were kept seated inside the aircraft without functioning air conditioning for over an hour. Agrawal mentioned that no food or water was provided, even for those who had pre-booked meals. The lack of communication from the airline was also noted, as there were no representatives present and passenger handling was outsourced to a few individuals.
According to an unnamed passenger quoted by the Press Trust of India, passengers were eventually deplaned and brought back to the immigration area around 7am.
In response to the situation, VietJet Air issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience caused. They explained that flight rescheduling for operational reasons is common in the aviation industry to ensure passenger safety and comply with government standards. The airline stated that affected passengers would be provided with support, including accommodations, food, drinks, and other necessary assistance based on individual requests.
The rescheduling of the flight had an impact on other flights as well, but the airline assured passengers that they were taking necessary measures to mitigate the effects of the delays.
Overall, the incident involved significant delays, discomfort for passengers, and a lack of clear communication from VietJet Air. The airline acknowledged the inconvenience caused and expressed its apologies while offering support to affected passengers.