Air Canada diverts flight to Baku due to technical issue, passengers awaiting alternate aircraft.
An Air Canada flight carrying 300 passengers took off from Toronto on Saturday, October 21, with Delhi as its intended destination. However, the journey didn’t go as planned. The Boeing 777 operating the route encountered a possible technical issue, forcing the aircraft to divert to Baku.
The B777 departed Toronto at 8:05 PM and touched down in Baku at 3:59 PM on the following Sunday, all times mentioned are local. This unexpected stopover left passengers stranded in Baku, their frustration evident as they grappled with what many called their “worst experience.” Some resorted to sleeping on the airport floor as they awaited a resolution.
Air Canada promptly responded to the situation. A spokesperson for the airline reported, “A replacement aircraft arrived in Baku overnight on Sunday. It has since boarded all the passengers and departed for Delhi. It is scheduled to arrive at 12:45 PM local time.”
Advertisement
Addressing the unique challenges posed by diverting to a destination they don’t typically serve, Air Canada explained, “We do not normally fly to Baku, so we had to obtain ground and aircraft support, which we immediately began to arrange after the decision to divert was taken. We arranged a food service at the airport and secured hotel accommodation for the passengers. As well, we worked with Azerbaijan authorities on helping customers who required temporary visas to obtain them so they could leave the airport.”
While not all passengers opted for the hotel accommodations, as some chose to remain at the airport, and others faced difficulties in obtaining visas, Air Canada acknowledged the inconvenience this caused. The airline expressed their commitment to making amends by offering a goodwill gesture to affected passengers.
Despite the ordeal, Air Canada emphasized that safety remains their utmost priority. They are pleased that all passengers are now en route to their intended destination, Delhi.
Advertisement
