Over 150 people stranded at Amritsar Airport due to foggy weather; authorities say 'passengers were informed about it'

The Amritsar Airport Administration said that the passengers were informed about the delay in the flight and were given hotel accommodation, but they refused and continued to stay at the airport.

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Amritsar Airport administration, in order to refute the accusations made against them regarding a disturbance, the administration claimed that passengers were informed about the Neos Airline flight's delay and that all required preparations were done to minimise any disruption. After their aircraft was delayed by many hours owing to foggy weather, 157 passengers are allegedly seen in distress at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in a video that went viral on social media on Saturday. 

"Passengers were informed about it, and they were offered hotel accommodation, but they denied it and continued to stay at the airport. Three-time meals and necessary arrangements were made for them," airport director V K Seth told ANI. 

"The flight was supposed to come on Jan 5 from Jaipur but got delayed by 1 hour," he said. The whole fiasco started on Wednesday night when an Amritsar-bound flight, Neos airline, was diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather conditions and low visibility issues."A flight from Neos Airline comes here every Wednesday from Milan. 

It was supposed to land on Jan 4 (Wednesday) around 11.50 P.M. at the Amritsar airport and depart around 1 A.M. on January 5 (Thursday). But due to foggy conditions and low visibility issues, the crew diverted the flight to Jaipur," the airport director said. He asserted that this flight required high visibility, which depends upon the pilot's training, the flight's performance, and such factors.

"Though other flights were operating, this particular flight needed high visibility. Henceforth the crew took the decision of diverting it. And following the protocols and considering other issues such as pilot`s rest, it was decided that the flight can`t fly before the completion of twelve hours," he said. 

The flight reached Amritsar on January 5 around 8 P.M.V. K. Seth added, "Passengers apprehended that if the flight would not fly even on Thursday due to bad weather, as it got delayed, what measures would the airport take for them? Some demanded refunds too. There was an uproar for thirty minutes. They were pacified when they heard the flight would fly as the weather condition normalized. All passengers boarded the flight safely." 

"The flight got delayed on Thursday at Jaipur Airport as one of the passengers was entangled with some immigration issues," the airport director confirmed. Dismissing the charges, the Airport`s Manager, Amit Sharma, said, "People have smartphones nowadays. They record videos, but those are not verified. Two or three families were protesting. Even I have even brought diapers for the children at the airport. All necessary arrangements were made for them." 

(With ANI inputs)