AI flight row: Mahesh Sharma says 'NOTAM' caused misunderstanding

Reacting to the allegations against Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma on Saturday said that the reason for the misunderstanding was a NOTAM (A Notice to Airmen) issued to the airport due to which the flight had to be rescheduled from 11

"We have made our stand very clear. It was a misunderstanding because the flight was pre-poned. That flight was at 11:20, but it had to leave one hour early. And the reason for that was there was a (A Notice to Airmen) NOTAM issued at the airport to take off before 10:30 a.m." Sharma told the media here.

Sharma said that Rijiju had an option of travelling by a helicopter and a Border Security Force (BSF) plane.

"Kiren Rijiju arrived at the airport and he had a choice to travel by helicopter, BSF plane. But then he saw that some people were late. People were coming for the 11:30 a.m. flight, not the 10:30 a.m. flight. It is not the passengers' fault also," he added.

Rijiju, who had last week gone to Leh by a Border Security Force (BSF) helicopter to attend the Sindhu Darshan function, reportedly caused the delay of an Air India flight and made three passengers de-board the flight.

Rijiju was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and they were to fly to Delhi from Leh on June 24, when the reported incident took place.