New Delhi: In a bizarre request, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi’s special protection guards sought to check the licences of the pilots flying the politician to Varanasi. They also allegedly demanded samples of the aircraft fuel to ascertain that it was not contaminated. The whole exercise delayed the aircraft by around 45 minutes.

According to reports, the incident occurred on September 14 at 8.44 am, when Gandhi was scheduled to take the Indigo airlines flight to Varanasi.

The pilots, who were taken aback when met with the strange request, asked the SPG guards to take it up with the aircraft officials. But the latter demand was met as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation was checking the flight by co-incidence, and fuel samples were taken. However, the whole exercise delayed the flight by 45 minutes.

Indigo airlines refused to comment on the episode, citing “the sensitivities that were involved.”

Emphasising that there was a blue book which laid down security protocols for VIP travel, sources in the airlines said, “No one ever says no to security personnel’s demand, no matter how illogical.”

Though the authorities from the airlines and aviation department were left surprised by the bizarre request, no one found it wise to voice their views as it concerned an SPG protectee.