The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday informed th at the refusal by its pilot to fly Rahul Gandhi from Kokrajhar to Guwahati in Assam was due to safety reasons. The weather at diversionary airfield Hashimara and en route from Kokrajhar to Guwahati was overcasted with low clouds and widespread rain patches.
The decision was however taken on the warning issued by the Met department over lightning and thundershowers. This decision of his professional judgment was strongly supported by the IAF, as the flight safety and the safety of the VIPs on board are considered paramount. Due to the refusal by the pilot to fly, the Congress leader had changed his travel plans for reaching Guwahati from Kokrajhar
Gandhi was on a day's trip to the state yesterday to meet victims of ethnic violence in relief camps and held discussions with Bodoland Territorial Council leaders on the prevailing situation in Assam. While travelling back with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, he was denied permission by the IAF officials to take off due to the bad weather.
