By Air India Express encountered a significant disruption to its flight operations on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, as more than 70 flights, primarily international, faced cancellations or delays owing to an unexpected surge in senior crew members reporting sick. This development has prompted heightened scrutiny from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which is closely monitoring the situation.
The disruption commenced Tuesday night and persisted into Wednesday morning, resulting in a cascading effect of flight cancellations and delays across both domestic and international routes. Authorities within the civil aviation sector are actively investigating the matter to ascertain its root cause.
Insights from sources within the ministry suggest that certain senior crew members deliberately deactivated their mobile phones prior to flight operations, citing health concerns as their reason for absence. In the absence of immediate replacements, Air India Express was compelled to cancel affected flights, causing inconvenience to passengers.
Promptly responding to the crisis, Air India Express issued a statement expressing regret and extending apologies to affected travelers. The airline assured affected passengers of full refunds or complimentary rescheduling options. Furthermore, passengers were advised to verify the status of their flights before departing for the airport.
An Air India Express spokesperson provided insights into the situation, stating, “A segment of our cabin crew reported sick at short notice, commencing last night, resulting in flight disruptions. While we are engaging with the crew to comprehend the underlying reasons, our teams are actively addressing the issue to mitigate inconvenience to our valued guests.”
This occurrence underscores the operational challenges facing the airline industry and echoes a similar incident with Vistara on April 1, wherein over 100 flights experienced severe disruptions due to pilot absenteeism. The incident underscores the susceptibility of airline operations to sudden workforce deficits, emphasizing the imperative for robust contingency measures within the aviation sector.
Source: Khaleej Times
