Haj pilgrims stranded

Bangalore: Over 200 Haj pilgrims on board a
special Air India flight were stranded at the airport here
on Saturday as the aircraft could not take off following expiry of
duty hours of the pilots.

The aircraft from Jeddah that landed at the Bengaluru
International Airport at about 3.20 AM could not resume its
onward journey to Mumbai as the pilots were not permitted to
fly beyond their duty hours, Air India sources said.

Air India requisitioned pilots by a relief aircraft from
Mumbai to ensure onward journey of the 220 passengers waiting
at the airport.

Due to delay in departure from Jeddah and late arrival of
the flight, the flying hours of the pilots had expired, the
sources said.

PTI