A second Polaris plane is en route to India to pick up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian G20 delegation, who are stranded following the discovery of a “technical issue” with the original plane just before departure.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced that a backup Airbus, CFC002, has been dispatched from Trenton to India for the delegation’s rescue. Flight tracking data reveals that the Airbus departed CFB Trenton at 8 p.m. EDT on Sunday and made a stopover in England early Monday morning.
Mohammad Hussain, the prime minister’s Press Secretary, stated, “Currently CFC002 is en route. We are working towards a departure tomorrow morning, but recognize the situation is fluid.”
Trudeau was scheduled to leave New Delhi on Sunday night after the G20 summit. However, during pre-flight checks, the Canadian Armed Forces deemed the CFC001 plane unfit for flight due to a technical issue that couldn’t be resolved overnight.
The Department of National Defence (DND) explained that the maintenance problem involves a component that needs replacement. The DND emphasized that the safety of all passengers is paramount, and pre-flight safety checks are standard procedures.
This isn’t the first time the Airbus has caused issues for Trudeau and his delegation. In October 2016, it had to return to Ottawa shortly after takeoff due to an issue. In October 2019, the VIP plane suffered structural damage while being towed into a hangar, leading to several months of repairs. Another backup aircraft was grounded in London later that year due to an engine problem.
The Polaris fleet, consisting of five planes, is expected to be retired in 2027 due to the age of the equipment. In July, the federal government announced a $3.6 billion deal to replace the aging fleet with four new and five used aircraft, all equipped with the same capabilities.
The first of the new Husky fleet airplanes arrived in Canada in August, with aircrew training and other tasks remaining before they can be put into service. The used Husky aircraft are expected to enter service this fall, allowing for a phased retirement of the Polaris fleet as the new A330 Husky fleet becomes fully operational, according to the Department of National Defence.