Canadian PM Departs India After Resolving 36-year-old A310 “flying Taj Mahal” Aircraft Technical Issue

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has successfully left India after a two-day delay caused by a technical glitch with his 36-year-old A310 “flying Taj Mahal” jet (CC-150 Polaris). His office confirmed that the issue was resolved, allowing Trudeau and his delegation to depart from New Delhi.

According to his spokesperson, Alison Murphy, Trudeau’s aircraft received clearance from the authorities, enabling the departure on Tuesday Sep. 12 in the afternoon, local time. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the Royal Canadian Air Force-operated jet taking off from New Delhi at 1:10 p.m.

Trudeau’s visit to India coincided with the Group of 20 (G20) summit, which concluded on Sunday. Even before the aircraft malfunction, his visit to the South Asian nation had faced challenges.

During the G20 summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Trudeau for allegedly permitting “anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada,” specifically referring to Sikh groups advocating for an independent homeland known as Khalistan.

In response, Trudeau stated that he had discussed foreign interference and the importance of “respect for the rule of law” with Modi. Canada’s national security adviser had previously highlighted India as a prominent source of foreign interference in Canadian affairs.

This isn’t the first time Trudeau has encountered difficulties during a visit to India. His inaugural trip in 2018 turned into a diplomatic crisis when it was revealed that an individual convicted of attempting to assassinate an Indian politician on Canadian soil was included on Canada’s guest list for an event.

Trudeau’s use of Airbus A310 (CC-150 Polaris) aircraft for international travel has also garnered attention due to their age. These aircraft, in service since the 1980s, require refueling stops during Trudeau’s trips to Asia, often including layovers in Alaska and Japan before reaching their final destinations.

news.yahoo.com, bloomberg.com