Update (July 28, 5:35 pm): The Airline on Friday offered an apology to the Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot who was denied boarding the flight on Thursday on an Air India subsidiary AIX Connect flight over alleged delay in reporting. According to the sources, the Governors office lodged a complaint over breach of protocol after which airline apologised.STORY | Flight takes off without Karnataka Governor on board, airline apologisesREAD: https://t.co/5x38t32iYm(PTI File Photo) pic.twitter.com/MHPeC3Ikdl— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 28, 2023The office of the Governor of Karnataka, Thawarchand Gehlot, has written to the Airport Authority of India, the Kempegowda International Airport Limited, and AirAsia regarding an alleged breach of protocol, despite arriving at the airport 15 minutes before the flight take-off on Thursday.According to sources, the episode embarrassed the governor. Gehlot was supposed to board the Bengaluru to Hyderabad AirAsia aircraft I5-972 at 2:05 pm. The sources confirmed that the Governor reportedly arrived at the VIP area of the airport at 1:50 pm and used the loo briefly before being taken to the plane.The Governor was not allowed to board the aircraft, citing the closure of the flight door by the airline staff. However, he was allotted the next scheduled flight travelling to Raichur from Hyderabad which was about 90 minutes after the flight he missed.“The Governor was not late and there was still five minutes for the take-off. The ATC and the flight attendants could have permitted the Governor to enter the flight. It is a violation of protocol. A letter has been written seeking legal action. This is the first time a Governor has not been allowed to board a flight after being on time,” sources said.
