Pilot refuses to wait, Kerala Guv misses flight

In spite of reaching Nedumbassery International airport about 10 minutes before the flight was to depart at 11.40 PM on Tuesday, the Kerala governor couldn’t board the flight as the “step ladder had been removed and the flight was pushing back”.

According to the sources, the Governor was returning to Thiruvananthapuram after attending a function in Kozhikode.

They were informed by Air India officials that the Delhi-KochiThiruvanthapuram A1048 flight will take off at 1140 PM. The delayed flight had reached Kochi airport at 10.58 PM and was to leave by 1140 PM. The Governor, accompanied by his wife reached the airport at 11.28 PM. 

The sources said though the Air India manager had informed the pilot that the Governor was arriving, he refused to wait for him and closed the door. Raj Bhavan sources said they would be taking up the matter with appropriate authorities even as Air India sources said they were looking into the matter.