NEW DELHI: Row 32 and 33 passengers snoozing on board Air India’s new Airbus A350 winging its way from New York to Delhi were rudely awaken by floor vibrations and sound from below their feet, reports Saurabh Sinha. They alerted crew members. Flying near the coast of Ireland at that time, the pilots decided to divert to Shannon, and the aircraft (VT-JRF) operating as AI 102 with 300 people on board landed safely there. In all such intercontinental diversions, the main issue is of visas in terms of getting passengers out of the airport for being taken to hotels. Airline sources say AI arranged for the same and everyone on this flight has been sent to hotels. Alternative arrangements for their return are being made as the aircraft is undergoing checks as suggested by Airbus. “It may be a case of cargo not being secured properly by ground handler at JFK or a panel coming loose. As of now nothing can be said as the aircraftis being checked,” said sources.
