Kerala Governor misses flight as pilot refuses to wait

NEW DELHI (92 News) – Flights waiting for dignitaries is a common feature in Indian airports. But Kerala Governor P Sathasivam discovered the other side of the coin at the Cochin International Airport when an Air India flight departed without waiting for him.

The Governor was to board the flight AI 048 at 9.20pm. However, the flight heading for Thiruvananthapuram from Delhi via Kochi landed at the CIAL by 10.57 pm. The Governor, who was attending an official program in Thrissur, was informed about the flight delay in advance but still could reach the airport only by 11.30 pm.

By the time, he reached the tarmac, the pilot had begun take-off procedures. Though the pilot was informed about the arrival of the Governor by the ground officials, he went ahead with the push back process of the flight.

The AI did not issue any formal statement but the airline sources said miscommunication between the ground officials and the Governor’s delegation might have led to the episode.