PM Modi's jumbo back in action after snag

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to fly from Berlin to Ottawa, the Canadian capital, on a standby aircraft specially sent to Germany owing to a snag in the Boeing 747 that flew him out last week for the ongoing three-nation tour.

AI has five B-747s, all at least 20 years old, and keeps a couple of them on standby whenever a VVIP goes overseas. On Monday, AI detected a snag in the engine of the B-747 ferrying the PM's entourage.

"The snag in the aircraft parked in Berlin was not a serious one. But since it was supposed to fly the PM, it was decided not to take any chances and send another B-747, that was on standby in Mumbai, to Berlin. The standby aircraft reached Berlin in time to fly the PM onward to Canada as per schedule," an AI official said.

By late Wednesday evening (India time) AI had repaired the first aircraft. It is being flown to Toronto so that the PM can complete the remaining leg of his journey on the aircraft he originally boarded. The first aircraft is custom-made for dignitaries, with a bedroom, washroom and meeting area. Standby aircraft are not custom-made. The second plane will remain in Canada should it be required again.

AI has been asking the government for quite some time to find a replacement to the ageing VVIP jumbo jets. It has now been decided to replace them with the brand new Boeing 777-300 extended range (ER). TOI had first reported on February 1 that this long-range plane had been chosen as the successor for the B-747s. The Maharaja extensively uses the B 777-300 ER for long-haul flights, including the non-stop ones to North America. Choosing this aircraft would mean that AI can use it for commercial flights when they are not required for VVIP visits.