The surge in flight delays across India, fueled by dense fog and congestion, has sparked political tension. Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia criticized Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, labeling him an “arm-chair critic” for sharing news reports on delays. Scindia asserted that sharing articles doesn’t qualify as research and accused the Congress of lacking understanding in technical sectors like civil aviation.
Flight delays, causing frustration among passengers, have led to arrests, with a recent incident involving a passenger assaulting a pilot during a delay announcement. Tharoor questioned the government and airlines’ preparedness, highlighting delays of up to 12 hours and passengers stranded on the tarmac as signs of India’s aviation sector’s sorry state.
Scindia countered Tharoor’s points, emphasizing ongoing efforts to ensure smooth operations. He condemned the mistreatment of passengers eating on the tarmac, issuing show cause notices and implementing improved communication SOPs. Scindia unveiled a six-point action plan, including the creation of “war rooms” at six metro airports and ensuring round-the-clock CISF manpower. Additionally, he announced the operationalization of Delhi’s Runway 29L as CAT III, allowing take-offs and departures in dense fog scenarios.