Milan, Oct 17: Diwali celebrations were disrupted for hundreds of passengers after Air India’s Dreamliner flight AI138 from Milan to Delhi was cancelled due to a technical snag in the Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
The flight, originally scheduled for October 17, affected around 250 passengers, most of whom have been rebooked on alternative flights from October 20, coinciding with the Diwali festival.
Passengers expressed frustration on social media over limited facilities while stranded. Air India said all affected passengers have been provided hotel accommodations, though some had to stay outside the immediate airport area due to limited availability.
In a statement, the airline said: “Passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights on or after October 20, based on seat availability with Air India and other airlines.” It added that a passenger with an expiring Schengen visa was rebooked on a different airline departing Milan on October 19 to comply with visa validity.
Air India expressed regret over the inconvenience and confirmed it is providing all necessary ground assistance, including meals, to affected passengers. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved has faced technical issues in recent times, raising concerns about its reliability among travelers. (Agencies)
