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 told PTI.
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.
