Why was business jet Gulfstream G550 picked to bring Tahawwur Rana to India from US? Explained

Pakistan-born Canadian citizen Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 64, who played a key role in Mumbai’s 26/11 terror attacks, was brought to India from the US in a special chartered Gulfstream G550 aircraft on Thursday.

The special flight, chartered from a Vienna-based service, departed Miami, Florida at 2.15 am local time on Wednesday (11.45 a.m IST) and landed in Bucharest, Romania, by 7pm. After an 11-hour halt, the aircraft headed to the Palam airport in Delhi.

Inside the jet, Rana remained under constant watch of NSG commandos, senior officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and a US Sky Marshal.

The Gulfstream G550 a jet is often used for high-profile diplomatic or executive missions. It was picked to bring back Rana because of its security features, speed, and ability to handle intercontinental travel with minimal stops.

CAN ACCOMMODATE 19 PASSENGERS

The Gulfstream G550, a highly advanced ultra-long-range business jet, is known for its spacious cabin, long range, and reliability. It is manufactured by American company Gulfstream Aerospace and designed for corporate, government, military and VIP use. Its first flight took place in 2003 and since then it has become the choice of many billionaires, big companies and government agencies around the world.

A version with reduced fuel capacity was marketed as the G500. Gulfstream ceased production of the G550 in July 2021.

Gulfstream Aerospace has its headquarters is located in Savannah, Georgia. It is a subsidiary of General Dynamics. Gulfstream Aerospace has been manufacturing luxury and high-performance business jets since 1958. G550 is one of its most successful and reliable jets. The company introduced G550 as an upgraded version of Gulfstream G500, which includes better technology, longer range and upgraded cockpit systems.

Its long-distance range makes it perfect for intercontinental flights. Like it can fly from New York to Tokyo or London to Cape Town without stopping. The price of Gulfstream G550 depends on its customization, but its base price is around Rs 500 crore.

THE FEATURES

Range: 6,750 nautical miles (12,501 km)

Passenger Capacity: Up to 19 passengers

Cabin: Spacious and comfortable, with three cabin zones and a crew rest area

Engines: Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710-C4-11 turbofan engines

Avionics: Features a PlaneView cockpit

DIMENSIONS

Length: 96.4 feet (29.39 meters)

Wingspan: 93.5 feet (28.5 meters)

Tail Height: 25.8 feet (7.86 meters)

Cabin Length (excluding baggage): 43.11 feet (13.14 meters)

Cabin Width: 7.3 feet (2.23 meters)

Cabin Height: 6.2 feet (1.89 meters)

Baggage Space: 226 cubic feet

Maximum Take-off Weight: 91,200 pounds

Maximum Altitude: 51,000 feet

Top Speed: Mach 0.885

THE FARE

According to an estimate, which News18 has not confirmed, around Rs 4 crore were spent on this entire trip.

RANA NOW IN NIA CUSTODY

Rana was remanded to 18-day National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody in a late Thursday night court decision. At around 11 am, the NIA switched on its interrogation mode with Rana, who will be grilled for his role in the planning and plotting of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that killed over 160 people, including 6 Americans, and left hundreds injured. The investigative agency will focus on three aspects of interrogation – the Mumbai terror attacks plot, the role of Pakistan’s ISI in the attacks, and Rana’s links with the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba that carried out the attacks.

A 12-member team of NIA, led by DG Sadanand Date, will grill Rana during his custody.