CM infuriated over delayed flight

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was angry over the delay in landing of her flight at Kolkata Airport on Friday evening. Banerjee's 6E334 Indigo flight from Bagdogra that was scheduled to land at the city airport on 5.45 pm, was late by nearly half an hour and landed at the airport on 6.10 pm.

A source in the CM's secretariat who was accompanying her, said that the flight had to circle the sky before landing, as the clearance from the ATC was delayed, citing that the runway was not free for landing. "Kolkata is at a short distance from Bagdogra. So why should there be delay?" an infuriated Banerjee had told her close ranks.

"It is usually found that when a flight with VVIPs on board lands at the airport, all the necessary steps are taken for its smooth landing. But this did not happen and the Chief Minister was angry," the source said.

Banerjee had a scheduled meeting with social and political activist Hardik Patel at 6.30 pm. The meeting was delayed due to the incident and it has been learnt that the CM even called up Patel and informed him that she would be a bit late.

Patel had reached the state secretariat at around 6 pm, accompanied by state Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim.

It may be mentioned that this is not the first instance when Banerjee's flight has been delayed. In August 2017, while returning from Delhi, she was stranded at the Delhi airport for more than two hours due to a technical snag. In December 2016, while returning from Patna, her flight had to do rounds in mid sky due to lack of fuel.