Title: Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s Departure from India Delayed Due to Aircraft Technical Issue
Date: 11 September 2023
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced an unexpected delay in his departure from India after his aircraft experienced a technical problem. The Prime Minister was set to fly back to Canada on Sunday following a tense meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit. However, he was unable to leave due to the technical difficulties with his plane.
According to Mohammad Hussain, the press secretary of the Canadian Prime Minister, the technical issue has now been resolved, and the aircraft has been cleared to fly. Trudeau is now expected to depart for Canada on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement released by Canada’s Department of National Defence, it was confirmed that the Prime Minister’s aircraft, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-150 Polaris, had suffered a “maintenance problem” requiring the replacement of a specific component. The statement emphasized the importance of pre-flight safety checks and reassured that the discovery of the issue demonstrated the effectiveness of these protocols.
To retrieve Prime Minister Trudeau, a replacement aircraft is being sent to India. Reports from India indicated that the replacement aircraft had been diverted to the UK but did not clarify whether the issue with the Delhi-bound plane had already been resolved.
This is not the first time that Trudeau has faced travel issues related to planes. In 2019, a plane carrying journalists collided with the wing of an aircraft chartered for his campaign trail. Fortunately, Trudeau was not on board at the time.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of strained relations between Canada and India. Recently, Canada suspended negotiations on a trade treaty with India, contributing to increased tensions. One major flashpoint has been political protests by Canada’s large Sikh population. In June, a prominent advocate for a separate Sikh nation, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot dead in British Columbia. Sikh separatists in Toronto protested against the Indian government, accusing Delhi of responsibility for Nijjar’s death. India denies the allegations, and the investigation into the killing is ongoing.
During the G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi expressed concerns about “continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada” and accused them of promoting secessionism and inciting violence. Trudeau, on the other hand, highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law, democratic principles, and national sovereignty.
Moreover, Trudeau confirmed that he had discussed the issue of foreign interference in Canada’s affairs with Modi. Canada is currently conducting an investigation into election interference, which involves not only India but also China and Russia.
Despite the tension, the technical issues with the aircraft have now been resolved, allowing Prime Minister Trudeau to finally leave India and return to Canada.
Sources:
– Lisa Lambert, BBC News Washington DC
– Getty Images