Airlines

Airline’s 1M passenger given free flights for life after boarding plane

A lifetime of free flights was a surprise offered by low-cost Icelandic airline PLAY to its one-millionth customer. On February 17, 2023, Ikechi Chima Apakama, the lucky traveller, was flying from Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport to Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport. Prosecco, cakes, and gift bags were given to every passenger on the flight.

The airline promised free flights for the rest of their lives to the lucky millionth passenger. IKechi was approached by staff who informed him that he had won the award after the plane touched down in Iceland.

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Ikechi received a coat and headgear from Cintamani, a renowned Icelandic brand, in addition to free PLAY flights for life. Following the surprise, IKechi and his two friends were driven off in a Cadillac filled with goodies and gifts that they could use to enjoy playing sports while on vacation.

PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson said, “I want to congratulate each of the one million guests who decided to travel with PLAY and the PLAY team for delivering our award-winning service. “For a startup airline that was just 18 months ago dealing with a global epidemic and extraordinary travel restrictions, reaching one million passengers is a remarkable milestone.

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Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.