Mumbai-Sharjah Air India Express flight diverted due to bad weather

Sharjah - Poor visibility was blamed for the same, though some passengers affirmed that the sky was clear.

An Air India Express flight flying from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, was supposed to land at the Sharjah International Airport at 1:25am.
However, the flight that departed around 11:40pm was diverted to Al Ain International Airport this morning (Sunday).
Bad weather and poor visibility were blamed for the same, though some passengers affirmed that the sky was clear.
"We have been stranded at the Al Ain International Airport for almost four hours," Dr Yasmin Shaikh, an Indian passenger onboard, told Khaleej Times on Sunday morning.
The aircraft later took off and landed at the Sharjah International Airport at 6:30am, Dr Shaikh, who is working as a designation director marketing and business development with Avivo Group, added.
"We were told that both Dubai and Sharjah airports refused to let our aircraft land."
The flight ever took late, she pointed out.
"We were also supposed to fly from India at 11:40pm, but the aircraft took off late at 12:10am."
Another passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the sad part was that all passengers received no update bout the delays from crew members.
"Passengers should be kept at ease."
A third passenger said that important meetings that were scheduled for most of the passengers were affected.
"Some were either granted work from home or given off for the day."
She added that most of the passengers' cell phones went out of charge. "We were not able to connect with family members in Sharjah."
Officials at Air India Express were not available for comment.
A fourth passenger said this (repetitive delay) was a common affair with the same carrier. "Earlier, my family was stranded at Dubai International Airport for almost 38 hours on the same airline (Air India Express)."
Mohit Sain, Regional Manager, Gulf, Middle East and Africa, Air India Express, told Khaleej Times on Sunday morning that the diversion was mainly for the safety of passengers.
"Safety of passengers and aircraft is of paramount importance."
Flight IX 251, departing from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, to Sharjah, was diverted to Al Ain International Airport on account of poor visibility at Sharjah Airport, they added.
"This is a matter of record."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
 

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