Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has successfully left India after resolving a technical issue that grounded his aircraft. Indian minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed his gratitude to Mr. Trudeau for attending the G20 summit and wished him and his team a safe journey back home. Mr. Trudeau’s departure was delayed by two days due to an aircraft malfunction following a tense meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi at the G20 summit.
Earlier in the day, Canadian Prime Minister’s press secretary, Mohammad Hussain, informed the Indian news agency ANI that the technical problem had been resolved, and the aircraft was cleared for flight.
In a statement provided to the BBC on Monday, Canada’s Department of National Defence confirmed that the prime minister’s aircraft, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-150 Polaris with tail number ’01,’ experienced a maintenance issue linked to a component that needed replacement. The statement emphasized the importance of pre-flight safety checks and hailed the effectiveness of flight protocols in ensuring passenger safety.
The defence department announced that a replacement aircraft was en route to India to retrieve Mr. Trudeau. Reports in India on Tuesday indicated that the replacement aircraft might have been diverted to the UK, although it was not clear whether this was because the plane in Delhi had already been repaired.
This incident was not the first time Mr. Trudeau faced aircraft-related travel issues. In 2019, a plane carrying journalists collided with the wing of an aircraft chartered for his campaign trail transport. Fortunately, he was not onboard during the collision.
Relations between Canada and India have experienced recent strains, with Canada suspending trade treaty negotiations with India. Political protests by Canada’s significant Sikh population have contributed to tensions. A prominent advocate for a separate Sikh nation, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was fatally shot by masked gunmen in British Columbia in June, prompting Sikh separatist protests in Toronto against the Indian government. India has denied the allegations, and the incident remains under investigation.
During his meeting with Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Modi expressed concerns about the “continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada,” accusing them of promoting secessionism and inciting violence. Mr. Trudeau’s team, in turn, highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law, democratic principles, and national sovereignty. Additionally, Mr. Trudeau mentioned discussions with Mr. Modi about foreign interference in Canada’s affairs, as Canada includes India in its investigation into election interference, which also encompasses China and Russia.
