The incident involving Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot and Air Asia on 28th July has raised concerns and prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the flight’s departure without the Governor on board. Air Asia promptly responded to the incident by expressing regret and vowing to conduct a thorough investigation. The airline’s senior leadership team engaged with the Governor’s Office to ensure that appropriate action would be taken in response to the situation.
According to the available information, Thawarchand Gehlot was waiting at the airport lounge, anticipating his departure on Air Asia flight I15972 to Hyderabad for an important event. However, to his surprise, the flight took off without him on board. The Governor’s Office promptly filed a complaint at the airport police station, citing the incident as a breach of protocol.
The complaint details the Governor’s travel plans, indicating that he was scheduled to fly to Hyderabad on flight I5 972 departing at 2.05 pm from Terminal-2. As per the records, the Governor left Raj Bhavan at 1.10 pm and reached the VIP Lounge of Terminal-1 by 1.35 pm. It was during this time that the luggage assigned to the Governor was loaded onto the plane. The protocol officer, accompanied by Airport Guest Relations Assistant Sanskriti, made all necessary arrangements for the Governor’s boarding, and the ADC to the Governor was informed to be present at Terminal-2. However, when Thawarchand Gehlot reached the ladder of the plane at 2.06 pm, he discovered that the flight had already departed.
Despite the unfortunate inconvenience caused by the incident, the Governor managed to make alternative arrangements and boarded another flight to Hyderabad after a wait of 90 minutes at the airport.
Air Asia remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding professionalism and adhering to strict protocols. The airline is diligently investigating the matter to identify the cause of the oversight and ensure that necessary corrective measures are implemented. The aim is to prevent any recurrence of such incidents and maintain the airline’s valued relationship with the Governor’s Office and all its esteemed passengers.
