The Hindu : Kerala News : Wahab issue remains on the boil

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Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008
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Kerala

Wahab issue remains on the boil

Staff Reporter

Taking action against pilot or MP tricky
Any action will have adverse consequences

MALAPPURAM: The issue over the deplaning of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)’s Rajya Sabha member P.V. Abdul Wahab at the Karipur airport last week continues to boil with the parties concerned sticking to their stand.

Mr. Wahab was forced to get off Air India’s flight IC 998 following a wordy duel he had with flight captain Rajat Rana on April 7.

The issue snowballed into a crisis with the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) threatening an agitation and the MP threatening to move the Parliament privileges committee.

Airline and airport officials indicated that efforts had already begun at higher levels to ameliorate the situation by finding a solution that would be acceptable to both parties.

Taking action against either Mr. Wahab or Mr. Rana will be tricky even if either of them is found guilty of violating the norms.

Even though P. Gouri Shankar, Regional Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Chennai, took the statements of Air India officials at Karipur, the ground staff there could reportedly give him a picture of what transpired outside the aircraft.

None of them could testify whether Mr. Wahab had actually entered the cockpit as claimed by the captain. Mr. Wahab had reiterated that he did not enter the cockpit.

Airline officials said any action against either Mr. Wahab or Mr. Rana would have adverse consequences.

Airline officials at Karipur expressed fears that the authorities might look for a scapegoat.

“This has been common in such situations. It is easy to find a scapegoat if there is an important head to be protected,” said an Air India official seeking anonymity.

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