In a bizarre mid-flight diversion, Rishiraj Sawant, son of former Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant, was forced to return to Pune while en route to Bangkok after an anonymous tip-off falsely claimed he had been kidnapped.
The chartered flight, operated by a private airline, was already flying over Port Blair when the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA instructed the pilots to return to Pune. Initially, the crew dismissed a call from family members requesting the flight be turned around, suspecting it to be a hoax. However, after confirmation from authorities, they complied with the directive.
Upon landing in Pune, CISF personnel swiftly removed Rishiraj and his two friends from the aircraft. Investigations later revealed that Rishiraj had not informed his family about the trip, intending to avoid a confrontation with his father. The anonymous call to Pune police around 4 PM triggered a kidnapping case, prompting an emergency response.
Political Uproar and Airline’s Unprecedented Action
The incident sparked political controversy, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders accusing Tanaji Sawant of misusing police resources to track down his son. They questioned the quick response to an unverified call while criticizing the police’s involvement in a personal matter.
An airline executive described the incident as “unprecedented”, noting that mid-air diversions usually occur only during medical or technical emergencies. The DGCA, however, commended the airline for following proper procedures.
The bizarre episode has raised concerns about police prioritization, aviation protocols, and the influence of political figures in emergency responses.
