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NDTV
04-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Rajasthan Chief Minister's Charter Plane Lands At Wrong Airstrip, Pilots De-rostered
Jaipur: Two pilots were de-rostered after a charter plane carrying Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma landed at the wrong airstrip. The incident took place when Mr Sharma was travelling to Phalodi from Delhi for an event on July 31. The aircraft, a Falcon 2000, was scheduled to land at an airstrip of Phalodi's Air Force Station. It instead landed at a nearby civil airstrip, which was repaired during Operation Sindoor. The plane, however, then immediately took off for the military airbase, which was located about 5 kilometres away. The runway direction, visual characteristics and geographical location of both the airstrips were similar, leading to the confusion, sources said, adding that the pilots were not properly briefed. Mr Sharma later returned to Jaipur in the same aircraft. The aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has started an investigation after the plane operator filed a "wrong airport landing" incident report.
Hindustan Times
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma's jet lands at wrong runway, pilots grounded
In an unusual mid-air mix-up, a chartered plane, with Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on board, landed on the wrong runway in Phalodi last Thursday (July 31). The charter plane carried Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma at the time of landing.(X) The landing on the wrong runway led to an investigation by aviation authorities, Times of India reported. The Dassault Falcon 2000 business jet, which was en route from Delhi, was scheduled to land at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Phalodi but touched down at a nearby civil airstrip—just five kilometres from the scheduled destination. Sources told TOI that the pilots realised the error and the plane quickly made a short hop to the correct airfield at the IAF base minutes after the unexpected landing. Soon after the major lapse, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a full investigation into the incident and the pilots have been taken off duty till the outcome of the inquiry. A voluntary report was also filed by the charter operator acknowledging the "wrong airport landing." "Seemingly, there was an inadequate pre-flight briefing about the presence of two airfields in close vicinity. Pilots must get a proper pre-flight briefing, and that is something operators need to work on to ensure such things don't happen," sources told the publication. 'The civil airstrip may not support the aircraft's weight category, compromising landing safety. Also, military-civil coordination may be lacking during such mis-landings, increasing response time for corrective action,' they added. The incident comes a month after a flight carrying Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri and state police chief Atul Verma reported a technical glitch with the brakes during landing at Jubbarhatti airport in March. The pilot of flight number 9I821 from Delhi to Shimla reported the glitch during landing. Airport officials then grounded the ATR-42 aircraft for inspection to check the issue. Sources said the pilots struggled to decelerate after touchdown, forcing them to apply emergency brakes at the last moment.
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pilots grounded after Rajasthan CM's aircraft mistakenly lands at Phalodi Civil airstrip, DGCA to conduct probe
On 31 July, a Dassault Falcon 2000 charter aircraft carrying Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma from Delhi mistakenly landed at a civil airstrip in Phalodi, instead of the Indian Air Force (IAF) station designated as the scheduled landing point. The jet touched down at the civil facility around 3 pm, but the pilots quickly realised their error. They took off again and landed the aircraft safely at the IAF base, located roughly 5 kilometres away. The Chief Minister disembarked as planned and, after a brief stay, continued on to Jaipur later that evening. The aircraft returned to Delhi the same night. 'The CM flew from Delhi to Phalodi on July 31 at 3 pm. The aircraft landed at the civil airstrip in Phalodi. The pilots immediately took off from the wrong airstrip and then landed at the Phalodi IAF station, which was the scheduled airport for it and about 5 km away from the former. The CM alighted there and a couple of hours later flew the aircraft to Jaipur. The Falcon 2000 then flew back to Delhi the same night,' an official told the Times of India. Investigation ordered, pilots grounded The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal probe into the incident. Both pilots have been taken off flying duty while the investigation is underway. The operator of the aircraft submitted a voluntary report to the aviation regulator shortly after the mislanding . According to officials quoted in the Times of India, the crew may have failed to distinguish between two nearly identical runways. 'Both the runways have similar orientation and visual characteristics. The flight crew misidentified the intended runway during approach. Seemingly there was inadequate pre-flight briefing about the presence of two airfields in close vicinity. Pilots must get proper pre-flight briefing and that is something operators need to work on to ensure such things don't happen,' a source told the paper. Live Events Shared geography, close confusion The civil and military airstrips in Phalodi are located just 5 kilometres apart. Their physical alignment, runway layout, and surrounding terrain are notably similar. This makes precise visual identification difficult unless pilots are well-briefed before approach. The Falcon 2000, a French-built business jet that can carry 8 to 10 passengers, was operating well within its range and flight plan. But the unplanned landing has raised a fresh set of questions around operational oversight and situational awareness. Had the roles been reversed — with an aircraft accidentally entering restricted military airspace instead — the outcome could have been far more serious. As one official explained, 'The civil airstrip may not support the aircraft's weight category, compromising landing safety. Also, military-civil coordination may be lacking during such mis-landings, increasing response time for corrective action.' Phalodi is not just a stop on the map. Known as the "Salt City" for its proximity to the salt-producing region of Rin, it lies in the buffer zone of the Thar Desert and is strategically located near Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. It's home to both civilian and military aviation infrastructure, making coordination between both critical. The incident highlights a need for clearer communication between flight operators and regulatory bodies, especially when operating near sensitive zones or regions with overlapping facilities. For now, the pilots are grounded, the DGCA is reviewing the chain of events, and the charter company will likely face closer scrutiny. As the probe continues, aviation experts say the case underscores a broader issue in domestic charter operations: the need for sharper planning, clearer protocols, and more consistent pilot briefing.
News18
04-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
Charter Flight Carrying Rajasthan CM Lands On Wrong Airstrip, DGCA Launches Probe
Last Updated: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched an inquiry into the incident and grounded the flight crew as the investigation continues. A chartered Dassault Falcon 2000 aircraft carrying Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma mistakenly landed at a civil airstrip in Phalodi on Thursday, instead of its scheduled destination at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in the city. The flight departed Delhi at 3 pm and touched down at the civil airstrip in Phalodi, according to officials familiar with the matter. Realising the error, the pilots reportedly took off again and redirected the aircraft to the nearby IAF station, around 5 kilometres away, where the CM disembarked as planned. A few hours later, the same aircraft flew him to Jaipur before returning to Delhi later that night, said officials. DGCA Probe On The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched an inquiry into the incident and grounded the flight crew as the investigation continues. The operator of the aircraft has also filed a voluntary report regarding the mislanding. 'The CM flew from Delhi to Phalodi on July 31 at 3 pm. The aircraft landed at the civil airstrip in Phalodi. The pilots immediately took off from the wrong airstrip and then landed at the Phalodi IAF station, which was the scheduled airport for it and about 5 km away from the former. The CM alighted there and a couple of hours later flew the aircraft to Jaipur. The Falcon 2000 then flew back to Delhi the same night," said an official, as reported by TOI. Sources suggest the incident may have stemmed from a pre-flight planning oversight. Both the civil and military airstrips in Phalodi share similar runway orientation and visual markers, which may have led to confusion during the approach. 'Both the runways have similar orientation and visual characteristics. The flight crew misidentified the intended runway during approach. Seemingly there was inadequate pre-flight briefing about the presence of two airfields in close vicinity. Pilots must get proper pre-flight briefing and that is something operators need to work on to ensure such things don't happen," sources said. Aviation experts point out that such an error, if reversed—mistakenly entering military airspace—could lead to serious legal and safety implications. Civil runways may not be structurally equipped to handle aircraft of the Falcon 2000's weight and class, potentially compromising operational safety. The incident took place in Phalodi, located in Rajasthan's Thar Desert region, known as the 'Salt City" due to the salt industry in Rin. The town is strategically situated near Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Charter aircraft carrying Raj CM lands at wrong airstrip in Phalodi
New Delhi: A charter aircraft flying CM Bhajan Lal Sharma from Delhi to Phalodi last Thursday, July 31, landed on a "wrong" airstrip at its destination. While the Falcon 2000 was to land at Phalodi Air Force Station, it landed at a civil airstrip in the city. Sources say the pilots realised their mistake and then took off from the civil airstrip to land the jet at the IAF station. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing this case and has taken the pilots off flying duty pending investigation. "The CM flew from Delhi to Phalodi on July 31 at 3 pm. The aircraft landed at the civil airstrip in Phalodi. The pilots immediately took off from the wrong airstrip and then landed at the Phalodi IAF station, which was the scheduled airport for it and about 5 km away from the former. The CM alighted there and a couple of hours later flew in the aircraft to Jaipur. The Falcon 2000 then flew back to Delhi the same night, said people in the know. The charter company filed a voluntary report on the "wrong airport landing incident" with the DGCA. The civil airstrip and the IAF station in Phalodi are about 5 km apart, and both facilities have similar geographical positioning. "Both the runways have similar orientation and visual characteristics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Undo The flight crew misidentified the intended runway during approach. Seemingly, there was inadequate pre-flight briefing about the presence of two airfields in close vicinity. Pilots must get proper pre-flight briefing, and that is something operators need to work on to ensure such things don't happen," said a source. The Dassault Falcon 2000 is a French business jet that can carry 8-10 passengers with a range of up to 6,000 km. This case has raised concern as an aircraft supposed to land at the civil airstrip by mistake entering the restricted military airspace could have legal and safety consequences. Also, military-civil coordination may be lacking during such mis-landings, increasing response time for corrective action, sources add. The headquarters for the eponymous district, Phalodi, is also called the "salt city" due to the salt industry in Rin. Phalodi is in the buffer zone of Thar Desert, close to Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
