Probe launched into trolley hitting PM’s aircraft

NEW DELHI - The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and national flagship carrier Air India have initiated an inquiry into a food trolley hitting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s special aircraft “Agra” shortly before its takeoff for Copenhagen Thursday.

Driver of the trolley carrying food items that hit the aircraft, delaying by nearly three hours the prime minister’s departure for the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, has been suspended, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters here.

“We have suspended the loader. He was not new to the job, so we are trying to find out whether there was any malafide intent,” Patel added.

According to him, the aircraft was slightly damaged.

“We have ordered a high-level enquiry, we could not have taken a chance with the prime minister’s flight, so the stand-by aircraft “Khajuraho” was put into service,” Patel said.

Manmohan Singh was earlier scheduled to leave at 2.45 p.m. from the air force controlled Technical Area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, but departure was delayed after the incident. The Prime Minister finally left for Copenhagen at 5.30 p.m.