Date:23/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/23/stories/2003012304411100.htm

National

Lufthansa admits deviation

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Jan. 22. The German Lufthansa Cargo AG today confirmed that LH8443, a Lufthansa freighter flew over the prohibited airspace in New Delhi and landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on November 20, 2002, at 6.30 am.

There were anxious moments as the cargo plane strayed into the "no fly zone'' over the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Prime Minister's House.

The airline said the deviation from the approved path was caused by a technical problem in the navigation system and the aircraft deviated from its course by four miles. The Lufthansa freighter was in touch with the control tower throughout and corrected course within minutes, as soon as it was informed. The incident was duly investigated by the Indian authorities and explanations given by the cockpit crew on landing were accepted by the authorities. "The matter was treated as closed''.