Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s departure from India following the G20 summit has been postponed due to a technical hiccup that grounded the government’s plane in New Delhi. As per senior government sources, the possible earliest departure for the prime minister and the delegation stands late Tuesday afternoon, local time.
Trudeau was initially scheduled to leave on Sunday night after the conclusion of the G20 summit. However, a technical fault was identified during pre-flight checks by the Canadian Armed Forces, grounding the CFC001 plane. This glitch was not rectifiable overnight.
The Department of National Defence (DND) revealed that a necessary component for the plane requires replacement. The department emphasized the criticality of passenger safety to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and affirmed the efficacy of pre-flight checks in identifying such faults.
The repair component required for the grounded plane is expected to reach India on Tuesday morning with a technician. If the component successfully restores the plane’s functionality, the Canadian delegation could potentially leave for Canada late Tuesday afternoon.
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Mohammed Hussain, underscored the tireless efforts of the Canadian Armed Forces to bring the delegation back home. He added that the situation remains dynamic, with contingency plans in place should the plane maintenance be unsuccessful.
The backup aircraft, CFC002 Polaris, already en route to India from CFB Trenton, is expected to arrive on Tuesday. The smaller Challenger jet is also put on standby to fly to India if needed.
The extended delay may cause Trudeau to miss a part of the Liberal Caucus retreat scheduled for Wednesday morning.
This is not the first time technical issues have plagued the Airbus. In 2016, a malfunction forced a return to Ottawa shortly after takeoff. And in 2019, the aircraft was out of service for months after colliding with a wall during towing.
Furthermore, the decision to replace the aging fleet came in July, with federal officials signing a nearly $3.6 billion deal. The updated fleet, featuring both new and used aircrafts purchased from a Kuwaiti company, includes identical capabilities.
The first plane of the new ‘Husky’ fleet arrived in Canada in late August and is currently awaiting operation after necessary aircrew training. A second aircraft will arrive in autumn, with the entire updated fleet expected to be completely operational by then.
Consequently, the retirement of the current CC-150 Polaris fleet will be phased to coincide with the integration of the newly acquired A330 Husky fleet.
