Hours after reports emerged that Punjab Chief minister Bhagwant Mann was removed from Lufthansa’s afternoon flight from Frankfurt as he was “drunk”, the airline released a statement saying that the flight was delayed due to the change of aircraft.
“Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change. For data protection reasons, we do not provide any information regarding individual passengers,” the statement said.
Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change.
— Lufthansa News (@lufthansaNews) September 19, 2022
Mann, who was on a six-day visit to Germany, was to take an afternoon flight from Frankfurt on September 19 to Delhi. But he took another flight on Monday in the wee hours to reach Delhi.
Meanwhile, Mann was surrounded by controversy as a report emerged that he missed the afternoon flight due to his overdrinking started getting viral. The party leaders, however, termed the news fake and fabricated.
The opposition leaders were quick to share the news clipping of a website criticising Mann for his actions. A digital news website, in its report, stated that “the chief minister was not steady on his feet as he had imbibed excessive alcohol and had to be supported by his wife and security personnel accompanying him”.
Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from 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 & shamed Punjabis all over the globe.1/2 pic.twitter.com/QxFN44IFAE
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 19, 2022
Former Punjab Deputy CM and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal tweeted: “Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from 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 & shamed Punjabis all over the globe.”
“Shockingly, Pb govt is mum over these reports involving their CM @BhagwantMann. @ArvindKejriwal needs to come clean on this issue. Govt of India must step in as this involves Punjabi & national pride. If he was deplaned, GoI must raise the issue with its German counterpart,” said Badal.
A Big Shame!!
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann deplaned because he was heavily Drunk pic.twitter.com/7PaPSiVDtb— Delhi Congress (@INCDelhi) September 19, 2022
Delhi Congress also tweeted: “Big Shame!!
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann deplaned because he was heavily Drunk.”