This question assumes importance in the background of a detailed circular issued in March this year by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding use of State-owned private aircraft/helicopter carrying political leaders and VIPs. The DGCA had issued the circular in anticipation of frequent use of choppers/private aircraft by politicians to reach destination at any cost for their election campaign.

According to the guidelines, the Pilot in Command (PIC) has to familiarise himself with all available meteorological information appropriate with the intended flight. For every flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), the PIC should study latest weather reports, forecasts and plan alternative course of action as well in the event of termination of the flight because of weather conditions. Under normal circumstances, the Met officials would brief the PIC about weather conditions at originating point, en route and destination and the convention was followed in this case too. While questions on how the flight was stuck in turbulent weather in spite of the briefing are yet to be answered, it is also not clear whether the PIC indicated alternative aerodrome/place for landing and other route details along with the flight plan to the Air Traffic Service (ATS).

According to official sources, a senior State Government official did enquire with pilot S. K. Bhatia, if he had any contingency plan as the weather en route was said to be overcast.

The State-level Crisis Management Team headed by Chief Secretary maintained that the chopper was in a ‘very good condition’ and complied with all the requirements specified by the DGCA related to its airworthiness.

The Government claimed that pilot Bhatia had obtained prior clearance from the Air Traffic Control as per the procedure laid down by the DGCA. But there is no mention of alternative route and landing facility.