Pune: A significant delay of over nine hours for a flight from Kochi to Pune caused inconvenience to passengers on Thursday, sparking frustration due to a lack of communication from the airport authorities.

The delay, attributed to a technical fault, left travelers waiting at Kochi airport for hours.

The flight, Kochi-Pune (Flight No. IX 2714), was originally scheduled to depart from Kochi at 5:20 PM on Thursday and arrive in Pune at 7:05 PM. However, the flight only took off at 2:31 AM on Friday, eventually landing in Pune at 4:17 AM.

Passengers Left in the Dark

While passengers awaited updates on the flight’s status, no announcements were made at the airport for an extended period.

Upon inquiry, the staff provided no explanation for the delay, further frustrating travelers. Later, they were informed that the flight would be delayed by nine hours.

The prolonged wait led to visible anger among passengers, some of whom attempted to express their dissatisfaction by protesting. However, the airport staff managed to de-escalate the situation and restored order at the terminal.

Aviation Expert Criticizes Handling of Delay

Speaking on the incident, aviation expert Dhairyashil Vandekar criticized the handling of the situation, stating, "It is inappropriate to leave passengers stranded at the airport for such an extended period. The authorities should have provided alternative arrangements to ensure minimal inconvenience."

The delay was reportedly caused by a technical fault in the aircraft. Despite the eventual resolution and safe landing of the flight in Pune, the incident highlighted the need for better communication and contingency planning in such situations.