Rajkot airport director took a joyride in AAI flight: RTI

Times of India: Rajkot: Thursday, 05 February 2015.

A Right to Information (RTI) reply has confirmed a major security breach at the Rajkot airport by the airport director who went on a joyride in an aircraft of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) by giving all security rules a go-by in 2013.

R R Gupta, then Rajkot airport director, had boarded the cockpit of aircraft VT-FIU King Air that had come from Vadodara for calibration of landing systems on July 9, 2013 and allegedly ordered the pilot to fly to coastal areas around Porbandar.

The aircraft went out of the air traffic control (ATC) radar for around 15 minutes triggering panic among the security agencies.

"Gupta boarded AAI flight in aircraft cockpit. He is from civil engineering background and he was not permitted in writing by any competent authority to board the cockpit. During the operation of such a flight, no security personnel were present and informed," AAI said in the RTI reply to an application by a Jam Khambhaliya resident, Anwar Umar Zakhia.

Describing his act as "ridiculous" and "irresponsible", AAI has also noted that Gupta boarded the flight for personal gain without even security check thereby violating Aircraft Act 1934 (22 of 1934). He also did not inform the Central Industrial Security Force for security clearance.

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had also ordered an inquiry into it. Gupta was later transferred to Ahmedabad where he serves as joint general manager (terminal operations).

"The pilot in command was not given written permission from any competent authorities of AAI to board Gupta in aircraft or aircraft cockpit. He entered inside AAI Aircraft (VT-FIU) without security check, without boarding pass, without any passenger and manifest," the reply said.

The fact came to light through footages of CCTV camera when the aircraft landed back after completion of calibration flights.

When contacted, Gupta said, "I have gone through the enquiry process by DGCA as well as AAI. I don't have anything to say. I can speak only with the permission from headquarters."