Snag grounds GoAir flight at Leh airport
Jammu/New Delhi, February 24
A Jammu-bound GoAir A320 neo plane, with 112 passengers and crew on board, today returned to the Leh airport soon after takeoff due to a “technical glitch”, the airline said.
Powered by Pratt and Whitney engines, A320 neo planes, which are being operated in the country by GoAir and IndiGo, have been facing engine problems.
The Delhi-Leh-Jammu flight took off from Leh at 9.20 am but had to return soon after due to a technical snag, airline officials said.
On the glitch, a GoAir official said there was an “indication” in the oil chip detection system and spare parts would be flown in.
In a statement, GoAir said: “G8 205 (Leh-Jammu) with 112 passengers had a technical glitch right after becoming airborne. The flight crew chose to return to Leh. The aircraft is on the ground and being inspected.” It did not specify the nature of the technical issue the plane had suffered.
The airline said the passengers were being looked after. “We are ensuring the next available flight options as well as the hotel accommodation for passengers,” it said.
A GoAir aircraft had earlier this month repeated glitches in the oil chip detection system — as many as three in two days.
There are a total 45 A320 neos in the country. Of them, 32 are with IndiGo and 13 with GoAir.
Pratt and Whitney-powered Airbus A320 neos have been facing engine problems for over two years.
Following a slew of engine issues, the civil aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, had last year ordered more frequent boroscopic inspections and grounding of aircraft on illumination of “oil chip lights”.
Earlier this month, European Aviation Safety Agency had issued an emergency airworthiness directive for A320 neo planes fitted with PW1100 engines having a particular serial number.
The European aviation watchdog’s directive came in the wake of instances of engine inflight shutdowns and rejected takeoffs involving A320 neo family planes. — PTI
