Co-pilot delays Haider’s flight

CHENNAI, May 7: The departure of the Indian Airlines flight on the Chennai-Tiruvanthapuram-Male sector carrying Foreign Secretary Salman Haider was delayed by about 45 minutes on Wednesday morning.

Airport sources said the flight was delayed as the co-pilot of the aircraft arrived late. The co-pilot had operated the Bangkok-Chennai sector flight on Tuesday night. The flight had been delayed, due to which, the co-pilot had Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) problems.

The co-pilot arrived after the FDTL period was over. IA could not operate the aircraft with substitute pilots as no one was available.The Foreign Secretary was going to Male in connection with the forthcoming SAARC summit.