Tyre puncture delays flight departure

The departure of a Kuala Lumpur-bound Air Asia Flight from the Cochin international airport here on Sunday was delayed after the plane had a tyre puncture.

Airport officials said the flight AK 204, scheduled to leave here at 5 p.m., had to postpone its return leg as one of its tyres on the rear side was found deflated.

About 122 passengers who had already completed their check-in formalities were about to board the aircraft when the puncture was reported. The passengers would be accommodated in nearby hotels. Meanwhile, one of the passengers complained that the airline had failed to inform them the exact time of its departure.