'Becoming A Troubling Norm': Supriya Sule Slams Air India Again Over Flight Delay, 'Stranded' Flyers

Air India said that the adverse weather conditions in Delhi caused multiple flight delays and had a "cascading effect" on its schedule across the network.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) MP Supriya Sule on Friday hit out at Air India once again after her flight at the Delhi Airport was delayed for over an hour. She took to her official X account to raise her concern, saying she was experiencing "yet another delay" by Air India and that passengers were "stranded and visibly distressed". 

"Flight was scheduled for 10:30 PM, delayed to 11:30 PM, and now further pushed to 11:45 PM," she posted. "This isn't an isolated case - it's becoming a troubling norm," Sule, who represents Maharashtra's Baramati in the Lok Sabha, said, without providing her flight details. She also tagged Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu to "intervene without delay".

Responding to her post, Air India said that the adverse weather conditions in Delhi delayed multiple flights and had a "cascading effect" on its schedule across the network. "We appreciate your patience and understanding," it added.

Over 200 flights were delayed and three others were diverted at Delhi Airport after heavy rain, gusty winds, and thunderstorms lashed Delhi on Friday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that this was the second-highest 24-hour spell witnessed by the city in May since 1901. 

Sule's Previous Complain With Air India

This incident was not the first time that the Sule slammed Air India. Earlier this year in March, she slammed the airline over its "endlessly delayed" flights, urging the Union Aviation minister to intervene in the matter. In a post on X, she slammed Air India over the setbacks flyers suffer due to the airline's "constant mismanagement," calling it a part of a "continuous trend of delays affecting passengers".

She had also raised concern over the difference between the premium fares passengers pay and the alleged unsatisfactory services they receive for it.

"Air India flights are endlessly delayed - this is unacceptable! We pay premium fares, yet flights are never on time. Professionals, children, and senior citizens - all affected by this constant mismanagement. Urging the Civil Aviation Minister to take action and hold Air India accountable," she wrote. 

In a separate post on X, she also claimed that her Air India flight AI0508 was delayed by 1 hour and 19 minutes. Air India responded to her post and acknowledged the inconvenience caused, attributing the delay to "operational issues beyond their control".