New Delhi: A woman pilot of Air India, the commander of the flight, made a dubious entry into aviation history when she did just that with nearly catastrophic results as the flight was taking off from Varanasi for Delhi.
The aircraft had started its takeoff roll when the apples tumbled out, making a thud.
On a Khajuraho-Varanasi-Delhi flight last month, with over 100 passengers on board, Capt. Kanwaljit Kaur braked suddenly as the aircraft was taking-off - it was taxiing at about 240 kmph. It caused all the tyres of the aircraft to burst.
The passengers had a miraculous escape. They were hurriedly offloaded at Varanasi and the flight was cancelled.
According to sources, Capt. Kaur had bought the apples from Varanasi and placed them inside the cockpit of Air India's flight number IC-406 on February 11. Then, as the aircraft began taxiing for take-off, the apples started tumbling out one by one, making a dull sound as they dropped to the floor. The commander and her co-pilot, Capt. I. K. Singh, forgetting all about the apples, presumed the aircraft's compressor had either packed up or the engine had shut down and decided it was dangerous to fly.
Capt Kaur, apparently without checking the cockpit instruments, applied sudden brakes and brought the aircraft to a screeching halt.
According to official sources, the national carrier had instituted a formal inquiry into the incident. Capt. Kaur is likely to be let off lightly and allowed to fly again, said a source.
Interestingly, Capt Kaur has a history of idiosyncratic behavior.
She had recently strayed into Pakistani airspaces and caused a huge embarrassment to Indian authorities.
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