Rahul Gandhi thought ‘Gaadi Gayi’, during the mid-air shock

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a party rally on Sunday, shared his experience during his mid-air scare that happened a few days ago.

“A few days ago, we were on our way to Karnataka on an aircraft. And the aircraft suddenly came down by 8,000 feet. I thought gaadi gayi [that it was all over].” Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying. The Congress Chief went on to add that it was during this scare that it came to his mind that he has to visit Kailash Mansarovar. Mr. Gandhi, who says he’s a devotee of Lord Shiva, has said that he would want to take a leave for 10-15 days after the Karnataka polls, and visit the popular abode of the deity.

On April 26, Rahul Gandhi’s chartered plane had encountered a glitch which made it nosedive by 8000 feet, thereby giving a major mid-air scare. The plane, however, safely reached the Hubbali airport.

With Congress officials filing a complaint on the incident, the civil aviation ministry has launched a probe into the snag.

“At around 10.45 am, the aircraft suddenly tilted heavily on the left side and the altitude dipped steeply, combined with violent shuddering of the aircraft body. It is apparent from the suspicious and faulty performance of aircraft that the incidents of shuddering and altitude dropping were not natural or weather related but due to technical snag of aircraft. Serious questions related to intentional tampering cannot be brushed aside,” the complaint stated.

A two-member panel, by the DGCA, will be probing the incident and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has assured action.

It was also reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called Rahul Gandhi after learning about the incident.