Plane carrying Amit Shah, Venkaiah Naidu develops engine snag

Due to engine snag, BJP leaders shelved their plans to attend N Biren Singh's swearing-in ceremony

A chartered aircraft carrying Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu to Imphal on Wednesday suffered an engine problem mid-air, prompting the pilot to return to the airport in New Delhi.

Following the engine snag, the two BJP leaders shelved their plans to travel to Imphal for the swearing-in ceremony of N Biren Singh as Manipur Chief Minister, sources said.

Naidu along with Shah and BJP leader Ram Lal had left for Imphal at 9.39 am from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The special chartered aircraft was carrying three more passengers besides the BJP leaders.

After taking off, the 'Falcon 200' business jet of AR Airways developed some problem in its engine prompting the pilot to return to the airport at 10.17 am, airport sources said.

 

Singh took oath as the new chief minister of Manipur on Wednesday.

Governor Najma Heptulla had on Tuesday invited Singh, who was unanimously elected the leader of the 21-member BJP legislature party, to form the government.

The invitation to Singh came after four members of the Naga People's Front, an NDA ally, met the Governor and declared their support to BJP for government formation.