Chiwenga Abandons Takeoff After Plane Develops Technical Fault In India

An aircraft caarrying Zimbabwean vice president Constantino Chiwenga and his delegation on board developed a technical fault at IGI Airport on Friday when the dignitaries were about to fly back to their country.

According to sources who spoke to Times of India, the Boeing 737 (A6-RJX) taxied out at 7 pm for taking off for Zimbabwe. However, soon afterwards it developed a snag and then returned to the terminal at 7:45 pm. The non schedule flight was operating with a call sign RO-J005. The B737-700 is over two decade old.

Chiwenga, travelling with his wife Mary and Deputy Health Minister John Mangwiro, were returning home after an absence of two weeks. According to Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi, Chiwenga was in India for treatment of a minor abdominal ailment. ZimLIve reports Chiwenga consulted an esophageal surgeon after complaining that his throat was dry. He is believed to have had difficulties eating as a result, which had caused him dramatic weight loss.