A Prayagraj-bound flight faced a major delay at Shamshabad Airport on Friday, leaving passengers frustrated. The flight was supposed to take off at 10:30 am but was delayed by five hours, causing inconvenience to many travelers. Among the affected passengers were Telugu film star Vijay Devarakonda and several IAS and IPS officers.
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has been witnessing a rise in passenger traffic, especially due to travelers heading to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela. Many passengers had paid between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 for their tickets and were upset about the long wait.
Reports suggest that the delay was caused by a technical issue in the SpiceJet flight. After several hours of uncertainty, the airline finally informed passengers that the flight would depart at 4:00 pm. The delay affected a group of bureaucrats, including two IAS and eight IPS officers. The Maha Kumbh Mela, which started on January 13, is now in its final phase. Most Amrit Snans have been completed, and Sadhus from various Akharas are leaving Kumbh Nagar. However, devotees continue to arrive as the festival will conclude on Maha Shivaratri, February 26.
This is not the first time that flights from Shamshabad Airport have been delayed. On February 5, an Alliance Air flight to Tirupati was delayed for four hours due to a technical issue. The flight, scheduled to leave at 5:30 am, was eventually canceled. Many passengers, who had planned to visit Tirumala for darshan, were deeply disappointed and protested against the airline.
Similarly, in January, an Oman Air flight from Hyderabad to Muscat was delayed for eight hours due to an air conditioning malfunction. The flight, which was scheduled to depart at 3:00 pm on January 30, was later canceled, leaving passengers stranded.
