Air India airhostess falls off plane at Mumbai airport

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, October 15

In a freak mishap, a stewardess suffered serious injuries after she fell off an Air India aircraft while shutting its door shortly before take-off at Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport here on Monday.

According to airport sources, air-hostess Harsha Lobo (53), was operating the AI 864 flight from Mumbai to Delhi. Shortly before its scheduled departure at 0610 hours, the step ladder of the aircraft was pulled back and the stewardess leaned outward to shut the door of the Boeing-777 ER aircraft. However, she lost her balance and slipped into the gap between the ladder and the aircraft and hit the tarmac.

Lobo was rushed to the Nanavati Hospital in a semi-conscious state where doctors diagnosed fractures to her back bones and injuries to her limbs. Hospital authorities said she was in a critical condition though conscious.

"The patient is suffering from right leg compound fracture, fracture in both heels and soft tissue injury in chest, abdomen and lower spine. She also suffered a sprain in the neck (cervical spine)," Nanavati Hospital said in its statement.

The hospital's Chief Operating Officer Dr Rajendra Patankar said the patient has been kept under observation and was being treated by Dr Prakash M Doshi, director of orthopaedics and traumatology.