PM’s flight to Copenhagen delayed after loader hits craft

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday fell victim to civil avitation department’s callousness after his flight to Copenhagen was delayed due to a loader vehicle hitting his aircraft.

Mr Singh’s departure for Copenhagen was delayed by three hours, thanks to the incident. At around 12.30 pm, the loading vehicle hit the cargo door of the aircraft causing minor damage, necessitating a last minute change of aircraft.

Neither the prime minister nor his team were on the plane when the incident occurred in the technical area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

A standby aircraft was then made ready for the prime minister’s visit to Copenhagen to attend the climate change conference. The flight was supposed to take off at 2.45 pm, but thanks to the incident took off after three hours at 5.30 pm.

“The departure timing had to be revised as the aircraft, earlier earmarked for the flight, was accidentally damaged while loading operations were in progress,” said Air India in a statement. Meanwhile, a high level inquiry has been ordered into the mishap.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel told reporters at the airport that both the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) and Air India would conduct an inquiry. He said preliminary inquiry has found that the Air India loader was operating the hydraulic lift carrying food items that hit the cargo door of the Air India Boeing 747-400.

The driver of the loader vehicle has been suspended following the incident. This is the second incident involving a VIP aircraft this month. President Pratibha Patil had a narrow escape after the helicopter she was traveling in hit a shed while landing at the Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar.

The accident, which occurred on December 9, occurred while the helicopter taxiing to the parking bay after landing.