Lapses of airport officials led to Pak pilot landing flight

Thiruvananthapuram: Lapses on part of airport officials were responsible for a pof a Gulf-based foreign airline landing in Thiruvananthapuram and staying overnight in a city hotel in May, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Wednesday. Replying to a submission by K C Joseph (Congress) in the Assembly, he
said the airline, Etihaad, had sought permission for temporary landing and stay of crew, including the pilot, after giving their names and nationalities.
However, officials who scrutinised the list failed to spot the name of the Pakistani pilot, Khan Khaleedh Rashid. The other crew members were American, Polish, Korean, Egyptian and Indian.
The minister said central agencies had also been asked to probe whether Rashid had made any telephone calls from the hotel during his stay.
He termed as incorrect the reports that Rashid had hired a car and visited various spots in the city.
According to reports, Rashid flew a scheduled flight to the city on May 6 and stayed for a day in a five-star hotel before operating the return flight the next day.
07/07/10 Press Trust Of India/Hindustan Times

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Categories: Airports Jul 2010, Foreign Jul 2010