Praful Patel orders high-level inquiry into PM's aircraft damage

New Delhi, Dec 17(ANI): Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Praful Patel on Thursday said that a person has been suspended and a high level inquiry has been ordered into the damage caused to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special aircraft "Agra" shortly before take off to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Earlier, the Prime Minister was scheduled to leave at 2.40 pm from the technical area of the Indira Gandhi International airport, but it was delayed due to a technical snag.

According to reports, the aircraft was hit by a trolley, which was loading food items into it.

Addressing the media at the technical area from where the aircraft was supposed to take off, Praful Patel said: "The aircraft was slightly damaged by a loader that required the aircraft to be withdrawn, and get in a stand-by aircraft immediately."

"We have suspended the loader. He was not new to the job, so we are trying to find out whether any malified intent," he added.

Patel further said that the high level inquiry will be carried out by both Air India and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

"We have ordered a high-level enquiry, we could not have taken a chance with the Prime Minister's flight, so the stand-by aircraft "Khajuraho" was put into service," Patel said.

Air India is to issue an official statement into the matter. By Ashok Dixit(ANI)