In a dramatic development on Saturday, former Jet Airways chief Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal were offloaded from a Dubai-bound Emirates Airways flight EK-507 after the immigration authorities at the Mumbai airport called back to parking bay while taxiing.
The Goyal couple were reportedly on their way to London via Dubai when the development took place at 3.30 pm on Saturday afternoon, reported news agency PTI. Quoting a senior executive at the Mumbai airport, Economic Times reported that Naresh Goyal and his wife were prevented from leaving the country. The report further added that the couple were immediately taken into custody by the immigration authorities.
According to some reports, the MHA had issued a lookout notice against the former Jet Airways chief, preventing him from leaving the country.
On 17 April Jet Airways had ended its operations after the lenders rejected its appeal for additional funding to stay afloat. A tweet by the airline had said, “With deep sadness and a heavy heart we would like to share that, effective immediately, we will be suspending all our domestic and international flight operations.:
The decision to ground its operation had led to protests by the airline staff, whose future looked uncertain. Many of them have now reportedly found employment with other airlines. However, many cabin crew level staff have not been able to get themselves employed till date.
Last month, Jet Airways officers and staff association had urged the Mumbai Police to consider impounding the passports of Goyal and other airline directors since they employees had not been paid for several months.
The news of Goyals not being allowed to leave India became a topic of intense discussions on social media particularly the microblogging site Twitter. An overwhelming majority of Twitter users hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bold decision after securing a bigger than 2014 mandate in the Lok Sabha polls.
Here are some of the reactions:
This is probably first time in history
The checked in baggage, which was in the name of Anita Goyal, was also offloaded from the flight.
Naresh Goyal, wife denied permission to travel abroadhttps://t.co/G27NiAniD9
— #RenukaJain (@RenukaJain6) May 25, 2019
OMG! Didn’t realise that #NareshGoyal & his wife were literally pulled out of an aircraft about to take off. A scene straight out of a thriller. So many will be in panic mode now. Exciting times ahead #NewIndia https://t.co/oWsfno9Qqn
— Smita Barooah (@smitabarooah) May 25, 2019
Jet owner Naresh goyal and his wife detained at Mumbai airport while trying to go to London. New India 🙂
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) May 25, 2019
Naresh Goyal (JET AIRWAYS) was flying outside India, ATC made a call, deplaned him and sent out of Airport.
Ye Naya bharat Hai. ?
— Ashu ? (@muglikar_) May 25, 2019
This is what 2nd Term does, even before PM Modi sworn in-
1) ED files to cancel Anticipatory Bail of Robert Vadra
2) Naresh Goyal stopped at airport from fleeing India.
This is different mandate & Power!
— Ishkaran Singh Bhandari (@Ish_Bhandari) May 25, 2019