DGCA launches probe into diversion of GoAir flight

NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator DGCA on Saturday launched a probe into the diversion of GoAir's Lucknow-Delhi flight to Patna to carry Haj pilgrims here.

While the private carrier had taken permission for diverting yesterday's Lucknow-Delhi flight to Patna from air traffic control and Airports Authority of India, it did not do so from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which approves flight schedules, officials said.

"The reasons for not operating Delhi-Patna-Delhi and not obtaining clearance from DGCA for diverting Delhi-Lucknow -Delhi to Delhi-Lucknow-Patna-Delhi is being investigated," the officials said.

The diversion, which caused over three hours delay, triggered protests by passengers who claimed they were not informed of it and had missed connecting flights to other destinations from Delhi.

The officials said that GoAir had planned to operate three flights on Delhi-Patna-Delhi sector to transfer about 450 Haj Pilgrims yesterday. The aircraft was to operate ferry services from Delhi past midnight. These operations were approved by the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA.

But due poor visibility at Patna Airport, the ferry aircraft was not dispatched from Delhi as scheduled. Due to the delay caused by low visibility which improved in the wee hours, only two flights were sent to Patna to bring Haj pilgrims to Delhi.

The scheduled Delhi-Lucknow-Delhi flight was diverted then from Lucknow to Patna to transfer the pilgrims to ensure their onward connection from Delhi.

While GoAir had obtained clearance from ATC and the Airports Authority for this diversion, no clearance was obtained from DGCA. This was being investigated, the officials said.