Technical snags found in AK Antony's chopper

New Delhi: Technical snags were developed in the two Mi-17 helicopters deployed to ferry defence minister AK Antony and his high-level staff to Rajasthan on Monday. Already grappling with a resurgent crash rate, with close to 50 fighter and helicopter accidents being recorded just since 2007, the fact that technical problems can dog even VVIP flights has come as a major embarrassment to IAF. Antony did not attend office on Wednesday as he was not much well after his hectic Rajasthan tour, which took place in scorching heat.
Official sources said that they were fortunate that the rotor and power pack problems took place while the helicopters were on the ground. IAF explained that they were just some minor technical problems. Sometimes in hot weather, the battery does not give optimal power, 'they said.

Sources said while the flight of the two Mi-17s from Jaisalmer to Tanot went off fine; the problems began on the way back. First, one of the helicopters developed the technical snag and then the second Mi-17, which was supposed to take Antony and the other VVIPs to the airport from the Jaisalmer military station also refused to start. This time, Antony and the others had no recourse but to travel by cars to the airport to take the plane back to New Delhi.






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