"3:30 AM, only then was the flight canceled"… Passengers furious over delays

A T'way Air flight TW172, scheduled to depart from Singapore Changi Airport to Incheon, was delayed for more than 16 hours, leaving hundreds of passengers waiting on the airport floor throughout the night.

According to a report by Channel A's 'News A' on the 27th, the flight was originally set to depart at 10 AM local time on the 26th, but was repeatedly delayed due to 'aircraft defects' and other reasons.

Delays were announced hourly, and 252 passengers ultimately received a 'no service' notice at 3:30 AM without ever boarding the plane.

Passengers, waiting for further updates, reported that they had to endure the cold on the airport floor with just a blanket overnight. Some could not hide their anger, saying, "The crew went to sleep" and complained, "I paid for a business class ticket but ended up sleeping on the floor."

Passengers claimed their requests for accommodations were also denied. Footage released by Channel A showed passengers expressing disappointment, stating, "We thought they would do something for us" and "They haven't done anything at all."

Eventually, after waiting for 16 hours, the passengers were able to board a substitute flight and begin their journey back home at 3:30 PM on the 27th.

T’way Air’s Response

Regarding this situation, a T’way Air representative stated in a call with Insight, "The Singapore-Incheon route was unavoidably delayed due to aircraft safety inspections. We did arrange a substitute flight to safely bring the passengers back to Korea, but we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the long wait."

On the lack of accommodation, the representative explained, "Due to local circumstances including peak season and events, it was difficult to secure hotels. Instead, we provided food and beverages to minimize inconvenience."

In response to claims made by some passengers that "the crew went to sleep," the representative clarified, "If crew members exceed their work hours, they are legally required to take a mandatory rest. This was a measure in accordance with work hour regulations, and there was absolutely no intention to abandon the passengers."

Dissatisfaction with the Response Continues

However, regarding compensation, the only response repeated was, "We are reviewing the procedures and will provide individual notices in the future." This means that the victims are left waiting once again.

Among netizens, sharp criticism continues, saying, "The bigger problem than the defect is the response" and "Shouldn't they have formed an emergency team?"

Although the delay was unexpected, it seems unavoidable to escape criticism for the below-par response.

Image source: pixabay, T’way Air / Photo=Insight