 "Jet Airways")
A Jet Airways Mumbai-Bhopal flight was delayed by two hours as a group of passengers refused to let the aircraft fly without their 'delayed' companions.
Some unruly passengers, who were a part of a marriage party, bullied Jet Airways to not only persuade but also compensate others passengers who were on the flight to deboard the plane so that their family members, who were late to the airport, could fly.
Jet Airways tried convincing passengers for over an hour, after which five people de-boarded the flight, accepting Rs 10,000 as compensation.
According to India Today, it was an 'affluent Gujarati family' that created the chaos. "Jet Airways was subservient to the Gujarati family because of the family’s connection to some “powerful” minister, reported India Today.
The scene turned ugly when members of the wedding group blocked the aircraft doors to prevent it from shutting. To restore peace, Jet Airways offered compensation but they proceeded to hold the flight.
Jet Airways confirmed the incident. "The offloaded guests - part of a larger group, refused to accept the airline’s offer of compensation/re-accommodation on alternative flights, and together with other members of the group, proceeded to hold the flight," an airline spokesman said.
This led to "an unruly situation, necessitating the intervention of law enforcement officials, causing the flight to be delayed by 90 minutes and inconveniencing other guests who were already on board the aircraft," it added.
Subsequently, all the offloaded guests were compensated, the airline said.
Here is the complete text of Jet Airways statement:
Jet Airways Statement on flight 9W 7083 (S2 4621) Mumbai - Bhopal of December 02, 2016. pic.twitter.com/G3RnH6nSAu
— Jet Airways (@jetairways) December 2, 2016
The incident took place on board flight 9W 7083 that was scheduled to leave the city at 5:55 am on Friday. Minutes before the take-off, passengers learnt that the aircraft was waiting because some passengers were running late.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules for scheduled flights in India state that check-in counters should shut down 45 minutes before take-off. Often, fliers who reach the airport well in advance but fail to make it to the check-in counter within that deadline are denied boarding.
But in this case the airline made an exception, alleged passengers.
Pt4, @TimesNow @jetairways crew announcing people to give seats to wedding group in exchange for compensation , 35 mins and waiting
— Parikshith Reddy (@parikshithreddy) December 2, 2016
Those people who bullied their way on to the @jetairways plane are the picture of Indian entitlement. And fuck you @jetairways for doing it
— Rohan (@mojorojo) December 2, 2016
