PM's aircraft unsafe, says aviation minister

PM's aircraft unsafe, says aviation minister
SWATI CHATURVEDI

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 24: When Prime Minister A.B Vajpayee enters American airspace on his official tour in September, it will be in a Boeing 747 that's 15 years old.

While the American President files by his special aircaft Air Force One when he goes a-visiting, Vajpayee will have to make do with the old aircraft. Minister for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta admitted that it was a matter of concern, and that the PM should not be travelling in such an aircraft in the wake of the Patna crash, in which the Alliance Air plane was 25 years old.

``The PM should not be travelling in an old aircraft. I plan to direct the ministry to tell Air India to either change the aircraft or ensure that the plane is safe. The PM's safety is of primary concern to us. While I do not say that the old aircraft are unsafe, why take a chance,'' Gupta told The Indian Express.

Gupta plans to dash off a departmental memo on the subject to Air India. With Gupta seized of the matter, sources say a dedicated VVIP aircraft tentatively called Vayudoot One, on the pattern of Air Force One, is round the corner. Pruchase of a dedicated VVIP aircraft has been cleared by the Special Protection Group and a high level committee nearly a year ago.

Gupta has also written to AI to re-tender its Haj aircraft since the aircraft which is being offered on lease are all more than 15 years of age. ``Why should we take a risk with old aircraft? Let AI find a company which offer newer aircraft. I want the entire deal to be retendered so that the safety aspect is given paramount consideration,'' states Gupta.