MUMBAI/ DELHI: An Alliance Air expat pilot was detained for a couple of hours by the IAF security personnel in Uttarlai Air Force Station, Rajasthan just recently for supposedly taking pictures and videos of the restricted aerodrome utilizing his smart phone.
The pilot was to run a charter flight to Delhi when he was challenged.
The IAF has lodged a formal complaint withthe Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), stated a source.The incident took place on January 9 when Alliance Air charter flight 9I962, with 23 guests on board the ATR 72-600(VT-AIZ) airplane, was readying for departure from Uttarlai to Delhi.
Boarding was on when the pilot, a Brazilian nationwide, began taking videos of the flying force station.
Its not known ifhe was shooting out of curiosity, as an aviation enthusiast or if there were other reasons.
He was captured by the IAF security workers and apprehended for questioning, stated a source.The charter flight was to depart around midday, but with the pilot not readily available, the aircraft remained on ground for near to five hours, the source stated, adding that the flight finally left for Delhi late evening.The source added: The event has caused much consternation amongst the airline officials, particularly with Republic Day a few weeks away.
Under the IAF standards laid down for operation of civil flight from its aerodromes, no aerial/ ground photography from the aircraft is allowed and no sensory equipment is to be brought by guests in hand bags.
Civil non-schedule flights (charter flights) with foreign team members can run to these IAF air stations only after getting clearance from the defence ministry.For foreign team members, airline companies running scheduled flights are required to obtain clearance from ministry of house affairs (IB) and ministry of external affairs.Uttarlai Air Force Station in Barmer, Rajasthan lies close to the countrys border with Pakistan.
Offered its geographical proximity, the station played a critical role in the Indo-Pakistan war.An Alliance Air spokesperson stated that the pilot worried has actually been de-rostered pending examination.