Technical Snag Delays Helicopter Scheduled for Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde's Campaign Flight

A helicopter intended for Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde's campaign faced a technical issue, causing a delay in her travel plans. The problem was identified late on Monday night, just hours before the helicopter was to transport the BJP leader to Latur for the Zilla Parishad elections. An airport official confirmed this on Tuesday.

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Munde had arrived in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on a chartered flight and used the helicopter for her campaign activities later that day. However, during a routine check by the aviation company that night, technical problems were discovered. The authorities at Chikalthana airport were promptly informed about these issues.

Technical Snag Delays Travel

The helicopter was scheduled to depart around 11 am on Tuesday, but Munde's journey was postponed by two hours due to the snag. Speaking to reporters, Munde mentioned that although the helicopter was old, she chose not to make an issue of it and continued her travel. She also expressed that flying has become a concern for party leaders since NCP leader Ajit Pawar's tragic crash.

Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister, along with four others, died in a chartered aircraft crash in Baramati last week. This incident has heightened anxiety among political leaders regarding air travel safety. Munde has been actively campaigning for the February 7 Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, holding rallies across Marathwada.

Regulatory Actions and Inspections

Late Tuesday night, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a note regarding the precautionary grounding of the Agusta 109 helicopter meant for Munde. The DGCA highlighted the technical issue found with the chopper. The helicopter had operated four sectors and landed at Aurangabad airport around 5 pm on February 2.

During post-flight checks, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) noticed excessive play in the pitch operating link rod of one main rotor blade. As a result, the AME flagged this issue and withheld the helicopter from further flights until repairs were made. The operator informed the charter-indenting agency about this around 8 pm, leading to the cancellation of subsequent flights at approximately 9 pm.

Munde's campaign efforts continue despite these setbacks as she remains focused on reaching out to voters ahead of the upcoming elections. Her determination underscores her commitment to engaging with constituents despite logistical challenges.

With inputs from PTI