The Indian Airlines authorities have refused to take responsibility for the mishap. “The bus as well as the driver were employed by a private contractor and the Indian Airlines cannot be blamed for the accident,” said an official of the National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) in Ahmedabad.

The incident took place near the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower in the domestic terminal of the airport around 8.30 am. Vaghela, who worked for Conwood Inflight Catering Service, was getting out of the airport from a VIP gate after completing his night shift. Around the same time, Mohanlal Parmar, the driver of an Indian Airlines passenger bus was driving the bus out of the airport premises for servicing. When he reached close to the VIP gate, Parmar ‘accidentally’ pressed the accelerator of the vehicle instead of the brakes, the police said.

The bus rammed into the gate, which was flung open upon impact. It then headed towards Vaghela, who had walked a distance of more than 10 feet towards another gate near the ATC tower. But before he could save himself, the bus hit him, police added.

Sardarnagar police have arrested Parmar on charges of rash driving and causing death by negligence. “In his statement, Parmar has told us that there was a technical glitch in the brake shoe because of which the vehicle did not stop on time. We are, however, waiting for the reports of the experts examining the bus before ascertaining anything. Our investigation is on,” said Inspector A S Rathod.

Incidentally, before being employed on a contract basis by the NACIL about a year ago, Parmar (61) was a driver with the Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Corporation (AMTS), whose drivers are notorious for rash driving.

A resident of Meghaninagar, Vaghela was the sole breadwinner in his family. He is survived by his wife and five children. Like other airlines, the NACIL hires private buses to be used as passenger vehicles on the airport premises. The drivers are employed on a contract basis. Air India has a total of ten such buses in Ahmedabad airport. Airport Director D P Bhagat did not answer calls by the media.