'UP babus should have consulted us'

DGCA sources say Uttar Pradesh government shouldn't have decided on its own on Rahul Gandhi's flight norm violation. Official probe to begin soon

DGCA sources say Uttar Pradesh government shouldn't have decided on its own on Rahul Gandhi's flight norm violation. Official probe to begin soon

If sources in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are to be believed, the Uttar Pradesh government was a little too hasty in declaring that Rahul Gandhi's chopper had flouted rules when it landed in Sitapur in the state on Monday evening.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday sent a report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs saying the young Congress leader's copter had landed in Sitapur after sunset, when there was darkness and very low visibility.
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Uttar Pradesh babus said the copter landed at 5.30 pm, while the sun set at 5.13 pm.



'Right flight'

However, a senior DGCA official, wishing anonymity, said, "We will start a probe into the incident soon. But it seems the pilot flying Rahul Gandhi's helicopter did not violate Visual Flight Rules (VFR). If an aircraft is operating under VFR, it can land or take off 20 minutes before sunrise and 20 minutes after sunset. However, certain other conditions are also taken into consideration."

Officials at DGCA also hinted the Uttar Pradesh government may have been a little to hasty in reporting that the chopper flouted flight codes. "Instead of deciding on their own and taking the matter to the home ministry, UP officials should have consulted us," said another senior DGCA official, wishing anonymity because he is not authorised to a comment.

However, Director General of DGCA, Naseem Ahmed Zaidi, was not available for comments.

'Controversy in air'

The controversy started on Monday evening when Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said Gandhi had forced the helicopter pilot to land after sunset in zero visibility conditions, because "of the commitment he had for the people of Uttar Pradesh".

Quick to grab the opportunity, the UP government sought a report from the district magistrate of Sitapur, Sanjay Kumar. His report to the Uttar Pradesh home department said Gandhi's helicopter landed at 5.30 pm, at least 17 minutes after sunset. He said as Sitapur does not have a proper helipad, the landing area was created by clearing a piece of farmland.

Meanwhile, during a press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday, Gandhi said, "I am a pilot. I would never force another pilot to fly in bad weather. I understand the dangers of flying in bad weather. There was plenty of visibility when the helicopter landed."

He dismissed claims of Bahuguna Joshi saying, "She is not a pilot."

Kumar's report also said after landing, Gandhi chose not to drive in a bullet-proof vehicle provided by the SPG.

"The UP government in its letter sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has requested it to ensure that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is under SPG protection, does not violate security norms during his future visit to the state," Additional Cabinet Secretary, UP Government, VS Pandey, said.

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