Bhagwant Mann 'Deplaning' Row: Flight Departed Late Due To Aircraft Change, Responds Lufthansa

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party reacted to media reports about Punjab Chief Minister being removed from a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Delhi because he was allegedly drunk. 

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Source : ANI

New Delhi: Lufthansa, the German air carrier that got embroiled in the recent controversy related to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann being deplaned, responded on the matter on Monday confirming the flight departed late because of a delayed inbound flight. In a response to a Twitter post that sought clarification from the airline on the matter, a tweet from Lufthansa’s media relations account clarified its stance on the delay. "Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft  change," Lufthansa wrote. However, the company is yet to issue an official statement on the controversy. The airline didn’t mention any involvement of CM Bhagwant Mann causing the delay.

Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change. Best regards

— Lufthansa News (@lufthansaNews) September 19, 2022

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) reacted to media reports about Punjab Chief Minister being removed from a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Delhi because he was allegedly drunk. 

The party termed the allegations as “baseless”, with chief spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang stating that the Punjab CM returned to New Delhi on schedule, as reported by India Today.  "Chief Minister returned as per his schedule. He took a returning flight on September 18 from Germany. He had to land in New Delhi on the 19th of September. The allegations being levelled by the opposition are baseless, rubbish, and a false propaganda," Kang told India Today.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has also reacted on his Twitter saying, "Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was deplaned from a Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP's national convention. These reports have embarrassed and shamed Punjabis all over the globe."

https://twitter.com/officeofssbadal/status/1571747588390678530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1571747588390678530%7Ctwgr%5E127c2003ebc5dc07336185a131cd3c87ab1791ef%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fzeenews.india.com%2Faviation%2Fpunjab-cm-bhagwant-mann-deplaned-from-lufthansa-plane-for-being-drunk-delays-flight-by-4-hours-report-2511873.html

Meanwhile, the Delhi Congress also took to social media and quoted a passenger on the Delhi-bound Lufthansa flight in Frankfurt as saying that the Chief Minister was drunk.

A Big Shame!!
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann deplaned because he was heavily Drunk pic.twitter.com/7PaPSiVDtb

— Delhi Congress (@INCDelhi) September 19, 2022