Dibrugarh (Assam): A Dibrugarh-bound IndiGo flight was diverted to Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International after the pilot of the plane announced snag in engine of the aircraft.
Over 150 passengers were travelling on the flight, including Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Rameshwar Teli and two BJP MLAs Prashant Phukan and Terash Gowala.
“We were almost there, just 15/20 minutes short when the announcement came. Union minister of state for Petroleum Rameswar who was also in that flight,” said Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan.
Rameswar Teli said, “Initially we were frightened and sceptic as to why the flight can not land at Dibrugarh airport when it can go back and land at Guwahati. Then the pilot made the announcement that for this technical snag they need a longer runway to land. We were made to remain seated inside while they tried fixing the technical snag,”.
“After two hours the announcement came that the flight cannot takeoff and hence canceled. I had three meetings scheduled today. As such tried requesting the indigo authority to arrange an alternative flight from nearby Kolkata but they couldn’t,” the minister said.
Teli said, “I will report this to the aviation minister myself. It was about 8.38 am when the flight took off from Guwahati airport. After about 12/15 minutes of flying at 8.51/52 am the pilot announced that there is a technical snag for which we’ll have to take you all back to Guwahati airport. Accordingly the flight was returned back to the airport from which it took off. By God’s grace we are all safe,”.
“The indigo authority didn’t manage the after events properly and we had to face a lot of trouble there in the airport. First they said that they are managing an alternative flight to Dibrugarh but they didn’t. Then they said they will arrange cars for them. But ultimately two MLAs Prasanta Phukan(Dibrugarh) and Teros Gowala (Duliajan) from state had to wait at the airport for five hours. They are irresponsible and there is no coordination. We want the intervention of aviation minister and prime minister,” he said.
Indigo management in Dibrugarh said that the passengers have been given the option to return by tomorrow’s flight. The passengers who do not avail it will be refunded.