Praful Patel gets into row with A-I staff, denies

FLYING OFF THE HANDLE: Patel, who was in London, denied the charge.

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Mumbai: Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel reportedly got into a row with the crew of an Air India New York-London flight.

However, the Minister denied the charge.

The employees - who did not wanted to be identified - alleged the Minister quarelled with the staff of AI-112 New York-London-Delhi-Mumbai flight on June 15 immediately after it took off and demanded service even when the seat belt sign was on.

However reacting to the charge, Patel, who was in London, denied the charge and told PTI he had pointed out the deficiencies in the service by the crew. "When I am travelling, as a Minister (in charge of the airline) would I not point out the deficiencies," he asked.

The Ministry spokesperson said in Delhi that Patel pulled up Air India for the deficient service during the flight finding it below standards and pointed it out to the management.

She said the flight was delayed by two hours in New York and further by an additional one and a half hours due to traffic congestion.

The spokesperson said the seatbelt signs were on throughout the period and the passengers, including children, were getting restless.

So, the Minister sent a message to the pilot through the cabin crew to know whether the seatbelt signs could be switched off if it did not compromise the safety norms, she said.

Patel strongly denied he had asked for liquor and food.