By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s special aircraft had to return to Paris after it developed a snag mid-air, it was reported here.
The aircraft had developed a problem in its auto pilot system, 15 minutes after taking off for Islamabad, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Gilani had gone to Paris on a three-day official visit.
The media report said that the special configuration Airbus A 310-300 type aircraft, currently being operated by the Pakistan Air Force for VVIP flights, hit air turbulence minutes after take off, and the auto-pilot system also failed to engage.
The aircraft began to sway from side to side when it was close to Zurich.
The pilots managed to manually control the aircraft and decided to return. Extra fuel was burned for around an hour-and-a-half before the aircraft landed at Orly airport.
The airport is closed for air traffic from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. But special arrangements had been made for the landing of the Pakistan aircraft.
The delegation would now be returning home by a regular PIA flight from Paris Friday evening.
An official was quoted as saying that the aircraft could have gone to Islamabad as it was able to fly smoothly after the initial trouble.
However, due to its VVIP nature and the eight hour flight duration, a decision was taken to turn back.