Srinagar
In what could be a major embarrassment for the government that the first Hajj flight when reached Srinagar was not allowed to land, courtesy Air Traffic Control.
According to reports government had announced that Hajj flights would be allowed to have night landing in Srinagar, but as the first flight bearing no 5102 reached Srinagar, the ATC authorities did not allow it to land.
Confused about the status, the pilot took rounds in the sky for nearly 25 minutes, and the flight was later returned. However as of now the destination could not be confirmed.
Waiting for their dear ones, the enthusiastic family members outside the airport were shocked as they heard about the development. Castigating government of even not securing its own commitment, they said “it is sheer non sense and ridiculous.”
“Why they announced it when they had no control to implement it,” Sajad Ahmad told Kashmir Life over phone. Waiting for his parents, Sajad said “the government is not visible even on papers now.”
According to reports reaching Kashmir Life newsroom, the people waiting outside have started sloganeering against the administration and are protesting as this report is being filed.
Post Script
An informed source in the governmnet said that the aircrafts were not permitted to land by the DGCA (Civil Acviation) because the aircrafts are wide-bodied carrying more than 400 passangers each. The night land facility was inadqeaute and the DGCA did not want to take the risk of permitting them to land. The aircvrafts have flown bac to Delhi and landed.
