In a gesture of goodwill and customer service, Air India has announced that it will fully refund the fare for the journey and offer a voucher for future travel to all 216 passengers affected by the unexpected two-day stop of a Delhi-San Francisco flight in the remote Russian town of Magadan. The incident occurred due to engine problems encountered by the plane during the flight. The Tata Group-owned carrier took swift action to rescue the stranded passengers and crew members by dispatching a second plane from Mumbai to Magadan, and then onward to the United States.
Senior airline executive Rajesh Dogra emphasized the commitment to passenger satisfaction, stating, “We will fully refund the fare for the journey and, in addition, provide a voucher for future travel to the passengers on Air India.” This proactive approach by Air India aims to mitigate any inconvenience caused to the affected passengers and demonstrate the airline’s dedication to customer care.
The replacement flight, designated as AI173, departed from Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon, arrived in Magadan in the early hours of Thursday morning, and touched down in San Francisco shortly after noon on the same day. Throughout the ordeal, Air India assured passengers that they would receive maximum on-ground assistance, including assistance with immigration formalities upon landing at the San Francisco International Airport.
Expressing gratitude, Air India extended its thanks to government agencies, regulatory authorities, and their staff and partners for their unwavering support in facilitating the safe transportation of the passengers to their intended destination. The airline also acknowledged the efforts made to provide necessary care and support to the passengers during their stay in Magadan, Russia.
Air India Guarantees Ample Compensation for Passengers Affected by Delhi-San Francisco Flight Disruption
The incident unfolded when flight AI 173 departed from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 12:05 am (IST) on Tuesday. Its scheduled arrival time in San Francisco was 7 pm (local time); however, due to an issue with one of the engines, the aircraft was compelled to make an unscheduled landing at the Sokol airport near Magadan at 1:30 pm (local time).
Air India Provides Full Refunds and Future Travel Vouchers to Passengers Stranded on Delhi-San Francisco Flight
To assist the stranded passengers, Air India promptly dispatched a team from Mumbai since the airline does not have an office in the eastern Russian town. The accompanying staff on the rescue plane ensured that essential supplies such as food and water were available to the passengers during their unforeseen stay.
Visuals shared online depicted the passengers being accommodated in dormitories and hostels near the airport, as local hotels were fully booked. The authorities made special arrangements for women with children and pregnant women, providing them accommodation in the dormitory of a medical college, as reported by Russian news agency Sputnik.
Air India received valuable assistance from Rossiya Airlines, one of Russia’s oldest and largest carriers, in carrying out the rescue operation. The ferry flight, which took off from Mumbai early on Wednesday, reached Magadan by midnight, successfully concluding the mission to retrieve the stranded passengers and crew members.
Air India’s proactive respand future travel vouchers, not only compensates the affected passengers for the inconvenience they experienced but also reinforces the airline’s commitment to delivering a superior customer experience. By taking swift and decisive action to rectify the situation, Air India has demonstrated its dedication to passenger welfare and upholding its reputation as a responsible and customer-centric airline.
