Network congestion caused midair scare on PM's flight

New Delhi: The Air India One carrying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his entourage back from Moscow to Delhi on his foreign trip had some anxious moments midair as the pilot had to avoid flying over Afghanistan because of last minute developments.
And congestion on the airwaves meant he could not get in touch with Pakistan ATS to notify a route change immediately.
When all attempts failed, he used the plane's satellite phone to speak to Delhi ATS who got in touch with their Pakistan counterparts and got the rerouting cleared. And the Air India Boeing 747-400 made its way back to Delhi late on Monday night last week.
Air India One was facing a problem many aircraft flying to Delhi from Moscow or other European countries usually encounter — flying over Afghanistan that is fraught with last-minute changes. They are often forced to take the alternate, but circuitous routes, instead to take care of exigencies like bad weather or other disturbances.
20/11/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Foreign Nov 2007, NACIL Nov 2007, Safety Nov 2007