Hit by VIP flight turbulence, PMO seeks report on holdup

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2

The spiralling row over Union Minister Kiren Rijiju delaying the departure of a Leh-Delhi flight that forced offloading of three passengers today prompted the government to apologise to passengers. The Prime Minister’s Office also stepped in seeking a report from the Civil Aviation Ministry.

The Rijiju episode comes days after an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on board, was reportedly delayed by nearly an hour to allegedly accommodate a member of his entourage. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju apologised for any inconvenience caused to the passengers, saying he would not make any observation until he received a report sought by him.

“As the Civil Aviation Minister, I apologise to all those affected (by these incidents),” Raju told mediapersons this evening, seeking to put an end to the controversy. He said if any rules had been violated, “we will ask why it happened and that it should not happen”.

Rijiju also apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers. “Air India, being a government PSU, we as ministers, have the moral responsibility if any passenger faces any inconvenience. We must say sorry to them on behalf of the government and ensure that such incidents do not recur,” he told a news agency. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, however, said he was not aware if any passenger was not allowed to board the flight.

"The deboarding of three passengers was never informed to me and this step would have never been appreciated if brought to the notice the same day," he said.

J-K Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who was with Rijiju travelling to Delhi, however, remained unapologetic. He targeted the pilot and other members of the Air India staff, alleging misbehaviour. Sources in the defence services, which maintain the strategic Leh airport, said flight AI-446 was to depart at 10.20 am as per its revised schedule on June 24 and passengers had started boarding the flight.

The 21Wg ATC was contacted by the Airport Director requesting a delay in departure to accommodate a “VIP” (Rijiju) and the flight eventually left at 11.12 am.

It also said information collected from Air India staff suggested three family members of an IFS officer were not allowed to board the aircraft as they came “late”. Those associated with civil aviation sector said the time of commercial transaction when Air India issued the ticket for the Union Minister could offer some insight. They said a ticket should not be issued for a flight departing under 60 minutes.

(With PTI inputs)