IAF defends pilot’s decision to not fly Rahul

Strongly backing the decision of its pilot to not fly Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while he was on a tour of Assam due to bad weather,the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday asserted that the safety of the aircraft as well as its passengers was most important.

Reacting to reports that the helicopter that had been requisitioned by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for a tour of the violence-hit state did not fly as it was beyond the ‘stipulated’ flight timings,the IAF said the reason for the cancellation of the flight from Kokrajhar to Guwahati was strictly due to the reports of severe weather in the region.

“Based on the prevailing weather and approaching sunset,the pilot,taking the safety of the VIP as being paramount,arrived at the decision that it was unsafe to undertake the flight. The pilot’s decision was taken using his professional judgment in the interest of safety of aircraft and its occupants,” said a statement issued by an IAF spokesperson. It added that the “IAF strongly stands by the decision of the pilot”.

“The weather at diversionary airfield Hasimara and enroute from Kokrajhar to Guwahati was also overcast with low clouds and wide spread rain patches,” it stated.