New York:

US President Joe Biden joked about steering clear of the doors on his Air Force One – a Boeing jet – as the aviation giant deals with a series of mid-flight mishaps, the New York Post reported.

“I don’t sit by the door,” quipped the 81-year-old President, followed by a quick disclaimer, “I’m only kidding. I shouldn’t joke about that.” His remarks came during a high-dollar campaign fundraiser at the Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Biden was responding to a question from CBS “Late Show” host Steven Colbert about whether Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tightened the bolts on the presidential plane before Biden’s trip to New York City.

The remark brought a moment of levity to the fundraiser and underscored broader concerns about aviation safety and Boeing’s ongoing challenges, the New York Post report said.

Boeing is facing increased scrutiny following a series of mid-flight incidents. The troubles began with a mid-air door blowout on a Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines on January 5, leading to the grounding of all 737 Max 9s by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA. A probe revealed missing bolts from the rear door of the Alaska Airlines jet, adding to concerns about Boeing’s safety protocols.

Shortly after, a Boeing aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Japan due to a crack in the cockpit window, further denting the company’s reputation.

In another incident, a Delta Airlines-operated Boeing 757 lost its front tire as it took off from Atlanta International Airport for Bogota in Colombia, triggering alarm about the reliability of Boeing aircraft.

Adding to the string of mishaps, a UK passenger noticed pieces of tape on the exterior of a Boeing 787 during a flight to India, raising further concerns about maintenance standards. Earlier this month, a United Airlines Boeing 777-300 experienced a midair fuel leak, forcing an emergency landing. Amid the challenges, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced his decision to step down at the end of the year, reflecting the company’s turbulent period.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has made “special arrangements” to land Air Force One and nearly 70 VVIP aircraft at the Palam Technical Airport – an airbase – when world leaders begin arriving in India for the mega G20 Summit later this week. Four other airports – identified as “reserved airports” – have been marked for any contingencies, officials said.

“Starting September 7, the Indian Air Force fighter planes will be on standby to keep a close watch on any suspicious activity in the Delhi sky, including of UAVs or drones,” a senior functionary in the government said.

“Contingency arrangements have been made in Lucknow, Jaipur, Indore, and Amritsar as well,” he added.

Dr PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena oversaw the arrangements at Palam Technical Airport.

The four reserved airports were identified at a high-level meeting with officials from the Union Home Ministry, the Intelligence Bureau, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

“The Air Traffic Control has been directed to be on high alert during the G20 Summit and closely monitor all flights entering Delhi. In case of any emergency situation, flights will be diverted to any of the four other airports that are part of the contingency plan,” another senior official handling G20 security arrangements said.

“The VIPs will land at the technical airport but aircraft and private jets carrying them will be parked at the Delhi airport. Special arrangements have been made to park the Air Force One and a few other important aircraft at the Palam Air Force Station. The station is under the security of the Air Force,” a senior officer from the Ministry of Defence told NDTV.

“All these VVIP aircraft will be parked in Bay-1 and Bay-3 of the Delhi airport as they are very close to the ceremonial lounge,” a senior official explained.

According to him, parking spaces have been identified at the airport, Terminal-1, and the cargo terminal. “Around 18 aircraft will be accommodated at the Palam base,” he added.

“For the G20 Summit, we have already made provisions for the required parking of aircraft at Delhi Airport. Our top priority remains ensuring a smooth and efficient travel experience for all,” he further said.

The Delhi Airport boasts an impressive parking capacity of 72 charter aircraft, along with a dedicated terminal. The DIAL officials maintained that the current flight cancellations were not linked to the availability of parking spaces for aircraft.

“We have received requests from airlines for the cancellation of approximately 80 arrivals and 80 departures as of now. However, we are committed to working closely with airlines to minimize any inconvenience caused to passengers,” stated an official.

“We want to reassure all travellers that the Delhi Airport is fully equipped with ample parking for aircraft. Despite the cancellations, we are pleased to report that the restrictions will not impact international flights. The cancellations only account for approximately six per cent of the normal domestic operations at the Delhi Airport over the span of three days,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have made extensive arrangements for world leaders to travel from the airport to their respective hotels where they would be staying during the Summit.