Truck hits PM’s aircraft, delays him by 3 hours

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s flight to Copenhagen on Thursday was delayed by three hours after a cargo loading truck hit the aircraft and caused minor damages, officials said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s flight to Copenhagen on Thursday was delayed by three hours after a cargo loading truck hit the aircraft and caused minor damages, officials said.

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Singh and his entourage had not boarded the plane when the mishap occurred around noon. A standby aircraft was arranged, which departed at 5.45 pm.

“The cargo truck was loading some items on the plane with the help of its hydraulic lift. The Boeing aircraft is almost two-storeys high and these special trucks are required to load items in them,” said a senior airport official, refusing to be identified. “The truck lifts a platform with the help of hydraulic lift into the aircraft.”

An inquiry has been ordered by both the Director General of Civil Aviation and Air India. The driver of the loader vehicle has been suspended.