Pune, India: A morning flight operated by Akasa Air from Pune to Bengaluru was significantly delayed on Tuesday after a last-minute technical issue was detected in the aircraft, leading the airline to deplane all passengers and reschedule the service.
The Bengaluru-bound flight QP1312, scheduled to depart Pune at 8:50 am, had completed boarding by around 8:10 am when crew members identified a fault in the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft just before departure. Passengers remained seated on board for nearly 90 minutes before airline staff asked them to disembark as a precaution and to carry out further technical checks.
In a communication to passengers, Akasa Air stated that the flight had been delayed due to operational reasons and provided a revised departure time of 1:15 pm. The airline also confirmed that the aircraft was undergoing inspection before it could be cleared for take-off.
An Akasa Air spokesperson said that affected passengers were offered options to reschedule on an alternative evening flight, and that the refund process had been initiated for those who chose not to travel. Ground staff and Akasa Care teams remained available at Pune Airport to assist travellers.
One passenger, who spoke to news agency PTI, confirmed that the flight was held up on the tarmac after a technical issue was reported and that all on board were asked to leave the aircraft once the problem was identified.
No further details about the specific nature of the technical issue were provided publicly by the airline at the time of reporting. Akasa Air reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and said it regretted the inconvenience caused by the unforeseen delay.
