Passengers fume over AirAsia India’s ‘cold’ treatment
FMT Reporters | June 21, 2018
One of them claimed that the air-cond was turned on full blast to force passengers off the plane during a delay in West Bengal.
VIDEO INSIDE
The passengers arguing with cabin crew in misty conditions inside the plane after the air-conditioning was apparently switched on full blast.
PETALING JAYA: Passengers onboard an AirAsia India flight today alleged they were given a raw deal after they were forced out of a stalled plane.
They claimed the pilot turned on the air conditioning to the maximum after the passengers were slow to disembark because it was raining outside. It then became foggy inside the plane.
The incident happened during an inter-state flight between Kolkata and Bagdogra in West Bengal.
All the passengers had boarded but the plane could not take off due to certain technicalities.
According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), passenger Dipankar Ray said the flight was scheduled to depart at 9am and was initially delayed by 30 minutes.
“After boarding, we kept sitting inside the aircraft for one-and-a-half hours with no food or water at all.”
He complained of very “unprofessional and rude” behaviour from the airline staff.
Ray said the pilot asked all passengers to leave the plane. But the passengers stayed inside as it was raining heavily outside.
“When passengers refused to de-board due to heavy rain outside, the captain put the air-conditioning blower on full blast to hound the passengers out.
“It created a scary scene as fog was created inside the plane and it was very suffocating,” Ray claimed.
He said many started to vomit when the situation became suffocating inside the plane.
He posted a video on Facebook of the ordeal.
In it, passengers were seen arguing with flight crew members, demanding they switch-off the AC blower.
Responding to the complaint, AirAsia India said the flight was delayed by four-and-a-half hours due to a “technical requirement” and regretted the inconvenience caused.
On the reason for turning the air-conditioning on full-blast, the airline said there was no danger to occupants as the circulated air was “condensing”.
“This is a normal occurrence onboard all aircraft when the air conditioning is operated in high humidity conditions,” the statement read.
AirAsia India also said those affected were offered refreshments and provided with alternative arrangements.
Ray said the passengers were told to get their refreshments at an airport food court but when they got there, they had to pay for their food.
He said they were only given a sandwich and a 250ml bottle of water when they boarded the flight for the second time four hours after their original flight time.
“This is unacceptable treatment,” he said.
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