Kingfisher Delhi flight stops at Jaipur to drop Minister

Srinagar: In a bizarre episode of its kind, a Delhi-bound Kingfisher flight from Srinagar was Tuesday diverted to Jaipur allegedly at the behest of a minister from Jammu and Kashmir on board, much to the annoyance of rest of the passengers, who have lodged a strong protest against the airline.
Sources said the Srinagar-Delhi Kingfisher flight (IT0353) was diverted to Jaipur allegedly after the minister of state for health and agriculture, Javaid Ahmad Dar prevailed upon the authorities to get the plane diverted so that he could get down at Jaipur.
The flight, according to the passengers on board, was scheduled to depart at 2.40 pm from the Srinagar International Airport but it took off at 3.50 pm. “When the flight reached Delhi, the pilot announced that there was congestion at the Delhi airport and he was running short of fuel, and has to therefore divert the flight to Jaipur,” said a group of passengers, pleading anonymity.
They said the plane was diverted at about 5.30 pm from Delhi to Jaipur. When it reached Jaipur, the minister, his wife and some other passengers were allowed to de-board at the Jaipur airport.
Sources said the minister and his wife where scheduled to visit the shrine of Khawaja Moin-ud-Din Chisiti (RA) at Ajmer. “It can’t be a mere coincidence that the minister and his wife were scheduled to visit Ajmer and the flight was diverted to Jaipur. The airline must probe the matter and bring the facts before people because the diversion caused inconvenience to over 150 passengers on board,” passengers said.
After an hour long delay, the flight reached Delhi at 8 pm, where the passengers had a verbal dual with the Kingfisher officials.
When contacted, the Minister on board Javaid Ahmad Dar, refuted that the flight was diverted at his behest.
22/06/10 Faheem Aslam/Greater Kashmir

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Categories: Airports Jun 2010, Kingfisher Jun 2010