Rahul Gandhi’s SPG guards ask for licences of IndiGo pilots

NEW DELHI: Personnel in Rahul Gandhi's security detail recently demanded to check licences of the pilots of a commercial airliner that was scheduled to fly the Congress vice president from Delhi to Varanasi. They also sought a quality test of the jet's fuel, sources said.

The incident occurred on September 14 when Rahul was taking IndiGo's 8.55 am flight 6E 308 to Varanasi.

A member of the crew said they were shocked when the special protection group (SPG) guards demanded to see pilots' licences. The pilots reportedly asked them to check the licences from the airline as they felt the SPG men were not authorized to seek their papers.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation was incidentally checking the flight and so the SPG's demand for taking fuel samples was met. However, the flight was delayed by 45 minutes as it flew only after the fuel was found to be uncontaminated.

IndiGo declined to comment on the demand made by the SPG. "We cannot divulge any detail," the airline spokesperson said, "given the sensitivities involved in this case."

"Such a demand has possibly never been raised. There's a protocol for special VIP flights where Air India or Indian Air Force deploy their best pilots. But when senior lawmakers opt for commercial airlines, security never asks for pilots' licences. After all, they are in the cockpit only because they are supposed to be there," said a senior pilot of an airline who has been flying VIPs in commercial flights for almost three decades.

The whole episode surprised airlines and aviation authorities. However, no one from these agencies was willing to come on record since the issue concerns an SPG protectee.

"There's a blue book for VIP travel that lays down security protocols. No one ever says no to security personnel's demand, no matter how illogical," said a source.

"In fact, if anything, VIPs taking commercial flights are more careful that they do not delay flights. They do not want to be seen as the last ones to board and then be blamed or hooted at by other passengers," said a senior airline official.

This change came after some flight delays caused by VIPs had led to protests by passengers on board.