Relief as Rahul Gandhi’s plane finally landed after mid-air free fall

Congress leaders, party workers and fans of Rahul Gandhi have been expressing relief after it came to light on April 26 evening that the Congress President’s plane experienced a mid-air free fall and had difficulty landing, before finally managing to land in Hubli, Karnataka on April 26 morning.

Rahul Gandhi was taking a private flight on a small Falcon aircraft to Hubli in northern Karnataka, on his way to election meetings in Uttara Kannada district on April 26. Two-thirds of the way into the flight, the plane tilted very heavily to one side and then went into a free fall for 400 to 500 feet. The autopilot was found not to be working and landing became extremely difficult. The plane descended twice but could not land at Hubli. It finally landed on the third attempt.

Kaushal Vidyarthee, who was travelling along with Rahul Gandhi and three others on the flight, filed a complaint with the DG and IG Karnataka, stating "The aircraft on a special flight (VT-AVH) from New Delhi to Hubli suffered serious malfunction and tilted heavily to one side during the course of the flight". Vidyarthee added that the 'unexplained technical failures' and 'shuddering and altitude dipping were not natural or weather related' and that the passengers feared for their lives. The aircraft is currently grounded at Hubli airport.

The complaint, addressed to the state's Director General Neelamani N Raju, requested the state police chief to "ground" the aircraft at Hubli and investigate its malfunction. The Congress Party tweeted a copy of the FIR filed in the case.

Congress leaders, party workers and fans of Rahul Gandhi have been expressing relief that all passengers and crew survived the harrowing experience. Many are also demanding a through inquiry into the incident.