A day after the Indian government issued a show cause notice to the U.S. air company Continental Airlines for "breaching protocol", the airliner Wednesday took a U-turn by apologizing to the country's former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for frisking him before boarding its flight at Indira Gandhi International Airport three months ago, reported Xinhua.
"Continental Airlines apologizes to Dr. Kalam for any misunderstanding and (or) inconvenience related to the security screening on April 21. Our intention was never to offend Dr. Kalam or the sentiments of the people of India. Continental Airlines takes great pride and is honored to have flown a respectable leader such as Kalam," the U.S. airlines said in a statement.
The statement came in the wake of a political uproar in the country over the frisking of the former president when he was boarding a U.S.-bound flight.
Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had described the act as "unpardonable" and assured "corrective action".
Continental Airlines Tuesday justified its act, saying there could be no exception to security frisking of its passengers.
A highly respected nuclear scientist and intellectual, Kalam was reportedly so angered by the rudeness of U.S. air agents that he refused to comment on this incident and only let it known recently.