Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, May 1: The nation's aviation industry has criticized Karnataka police for registering case against pilots in connection with problems encountered by the special aircraft carrying Congress Party's national president, Rahul Gandhi, to Hubballi, during its flight and landing.

Business Aircraft Operators Association has pointed out that Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) happens to be the only competent authority that is empowered with undertaking investigations on such incidents. The association has urged the concerned not to politicize the issue at any cost. It noted that DGCA already has appointed a two-member committee to investigate the said issue.

Rahul Gandhi

The aircraft, 'Falcon 2000', which was bringing Rahul Gandhi to Hubballi from New Delhi had encountered some problems on the way and had tilted midway. During its landing, the aircraft had again faced problems. The aircraft belonging to M/s Ligear Aviation had succeeded in landing at Hubballi in its third attempt. Some Congress workers had filed police complaint in Gokul station at Hubballi about this incident. The company, in its report to DGCA, had said that the flight encountered problems because of certain complications in the operation of auto pilot system of the aircraft and that the aircraft came under control after the pilot changed the mode to manual mode.

A senior DGCA official said that failure of auto mode is not a new phenomenon and that DGCA undertakes detailed investigation in all cases of problems relating to operation of aircrafts. The official said that DGCA will act upon the investigation report expected to be submitted by a two-member committee formed by DGCA in about two to three weeks time.