Eknath Shinde stuck at airport as pilot refuses to fly after duty hours

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s journey from Jalgaon to Mumbai on Friday was delayed by 45 minutes after the pilot of his aircraft refused to fly citing end of work hours, NDTV reported.

The Shiv Sena chief was about to leave for Mumbai after participating in the 'Palkhi Yatra' of Sant Muktai in Muktainaga in Jalgaon when the incident took place.

Ministers Girish Mahajan and Gulabrao Patil, and few other officials were accompanying him to Mumbai.

The pilot declared that his duty hours were over, alongside pointing out that getting clearance to fly would take time.

It is also reported that the pilot cited his ill health as the reason behind his refusal to fly.

The ministers and other officials accompanying the chief minister tried to persuade the pilot to change his decision.

After about 45 minutes of interaction they were able to talk the pilot out of his decision.

The aircraft eventually took off after Mahajan spoke to concerned officials regarding flight clearance.

‘The pilot had a health-related concern and an issue with the timing. There were some technical difficulties too. We spoke to the airline company, and they explained the situation to the pilot in their own way. It was a minor issue,’ Mahajan reportedly said.

Meanwhile, on their return flight to Mumbai, Shinde airlifted a woman who missed flight and urgently required to undergo a kidney surgery in the city.

When he learnt about Sheetal Patil’s plight, he offered to help her keeping ready ambulance services at Mumbai airport.

‘Eknath Shinde has not forgotten his days of struggle even today. He has shown sensitivity towards the common man,’ Patil reportedly said.