Rahul Gandhi flight scare: 'snag not uncommon’ says Aviation regulator
New Delhi: The plane taking Rahul Gandhi from Delhi to Hubballi on Thursday suddenly dipped, listed to one side and shuddered violently despite clear weather, the Congress has said in a complaint alleging "intentional tampering" of the aircraft and calling for an investigation. An FIR has been filed against the pilot.
The civil aviation regulator has blamed it on a "snag of autopilot mode", which, it asserts, is not uncommon.
"The operator has reported the incident to us. It was snag of autopilot mode and pilot shifted to manual mode and landed safely," said BS Bhullar, who heads the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
"Shutting of autopilot incidents are not uncommon. For any VIP flight, DGCA examines it in detail. We shall do here also," he added. A detailed report will be out in two weeks.
The Congress has called for a thorough investigation and this morning, there were a deluge of tweets from party leaders expressing concern.
In a letter to the Karnataka police, a party leader described the flight as "particularly frightening and uncommon" and said the entire experience had left the passengers "with a lot of anxiety and distress" and positively fearing for their lives".
Mr Gandhi's team member said in his letter that the "suspicious and faulty performance" of the aircraft was due to technical snags.
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Bhatkal: New Shams School pays tribute to SM Syed Khalil
Bhatkal: The management and students of New Shams School gathered during their morning assembly on Saturday to mourn the demise of SM Syed Khalil, a prominent NRI businessman and a guiding force for the school.
Addressing the assembly, Education Board member Moulana Ziya Ruknuddin reflected on Syed Khalil’s remarkable life journey. He highlighted how Khalil, born under challenging circumstances following his father’s death before his birth, overcame significant obstacles to achieve great success.
“Khalil’s life is an inspiration for all of us,” Maulana Ruknuddin said, urging students to draw lessons from his resilience, dedication, and humility. He also emphasized Khalil’s commitment to supporting education and his role in uplifting the people of Bhatkal.
Moulana Ziya further acknowledged Khalil’s contributions to the school, noting his instrumental role in constructing the new campus of New Shams School. He described Khalil as a mentor and guide who was always available to offer his support and vision for the betterment of the institution.
Principal Liyaquat Ali and Board Secretary Syed Qutub Barmawar also attended the ceremony, along with teachers and other staff members, as they joined the students in paying tribute to the beloved community leader.
