Lucknow: A Uttar Pradesh government aircraft carrying Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak experienced a technical malfunction while taxiing on the runway at Moradabad airport on Monday afternoon, prompting the pilot to abort takeoff as a safety measure. The incident occurred around 4:15 pm, shortly after the aircraft received clearance from air traffic control.
Incident Details
Pathak had boarded the seven-seater Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft, bearing tail registration VT-UPR, for a flight to Lucknow after attending the BJP's divisional training program in Moradabad. According to sources, the deputy CM remained in Moradabad until evening while district administration arranged alternative road transport for his return to Lucknow.
Pilot's Account
“While rolling on the runway, the pilot detected some technical issue with the aircraft, following which he aborted the takeoff,” Pathak later told TOI. He added that while deboarding after the snag, he noticed smoke emanating from a section of the aircraft.
Possible Cause
A Moradabad airport official informed TOI that there was no issue with the aircraft engine, though the pilot detected a snag during takeoff procedures. However, another official source claimed that the problem was linked to the aircraft’s fuel control unit (FCU). The source added that the same aircraft had experienced FCU-related issues nearly two months ago as well. The FCU is a critical component that regulates the exact amount of fuel supplied to the engine.
DGCA Inquiry Likely
Officials said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is likely to order an inquiry to determine the cause of the technical fault. “If the issue was indeed related to the FCU, then the deputy CM and the crew were fortunate that the takeoff was aborted,” said a source.
Aircraft Background
The aircraft with Pathak onboard had departed from Lucknow for Moradabad around 10:15 am on Sunday and later returned to Lucknow while Pathak stayed back in Moradabad. It again left for Moradabad around 3:12 pm on Monday and reached there at 3:48 pm. The aircraft VT-UPR was commissioned into service with the Uttar Pradesh government in August 2003. The King Air B200 is a twin turboprop aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 engines.
