UK Air Traffic Control Glitch: Air India Mumbai-London Flight Diverted to Zurich, Passengers from Ahmedabad Amid Stranded Flyers

Over 246 London-bound passengers, including several travellers from Ahmedabad, spent Tuesday night sleeping on benches and floors at Zurich Airport after Air India flight AI-131 was diverted due to a major technical snag in London's Air Traffic Control (ATC) system.

The Mumbai-to-London Heathrow flight departed from Mumbai around 1:30 PM on Tuesday. However, mid-flight airspace restrictions triggered by the UK air control failure forced pilots to divert the aircraft to Switzerland.

Technical Failure Disrupts UK Airspace

The sudden system glitch in London's air traffic network disrupted dozens of international flight schedules across Europe, forcing airlines to reroute or ground services heading into the UK.

Air India flight AI-131 became an immediate casualty of the airspace freeze, leaving crew members with no choice but to head to Zurich as an alternate landing location.

Passengers Left Stranded at Zurich Terminal

After touching down in Switzerland, passengers were initially held inside the aircraft while waiting for clearance. Air India eventually cancelled the leg, offloading all 246 travellers into the Zurich airport terminal.

Passengers reported significant fatigue and distress due to limited accommodation arrangements overnight.

• Overnight Struggles: With local hotels unavailable on short notice, passengers, including elderly travellers and families, were forced to sleep on airport benches and terminal floors.
• Basic Refreshments Provided: Airport authorities and airline staff arranged basic refreshments, tea, and snacks during the prolonged waiting period.
• Communication Gap: Travellers expressed frustration over vague updates regarding alternative transport arrangements to final destinations in the United Kingdom.

Sanjay Suryabali, a passenger stranded on the flight, confirmed from Zurich that travellers were asked to wait at the terminal until Tuesday afternoon for clear instructions regarding replacement aircraft or rescheduled connections.

Operational Strain on Air India Services

This unexpected diversion adds further pressure on Air India's long-haul operations, which have faced heightened scrutiny over schedule reliability and passenger facilitation during international disruptions.

Affected passengers continue to await official confirmation on when substitute flights will airlift them from Zurich to London.