Post snag, 2 Indian flights force-land in Pakistan, Oman
New Delhi, July 17
Two international flights by Indian carriers were diverted to a third country as a precautionary measure following technical snags in fresh mid-air scare incidents over the past 24 hours.
In the wake of a string of such incidents, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today held a meeting on safety issues with senior officials of his ministry and regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Mid-air scare
July 17: IndiGo’s Sharjah-Hyderabad flight diverted to Karachi after pilots observe defect in one of the engines
July 16: AI Express’ Calicut-Dubai flight diverted to Muscat after burning smell in cabin
July 15: Alive bird found in cockpit of the AI Express’ Bahrain-Kochi flight
July 14: IndiGo’s Delhi-Vadodara flight makes emergency landing in Jaipur after engine vibration
The minister was briefed in detail about the incidents over the last one month. He is learnt to have told the DGCA and the officials in his ministry to ensure there was no compromise with the safety of passengers. On Sunday, budget airline IndiGo’s Sharjah-Hyderabad flight was diverted to Karachi in Pakistan after pilots observed a defect in one of the engines. On Saturday night, Air India Express’s Calicut-Dubai flight was diverted to Muscat in Oman after a burning smell was detected in the cabin mid-air. A day earlier, an alive bird was found in the cockpit of the Air India Express’ Bahrain-Kochi flight. The DGCA is learnt to be investigating the incidents, said officials.
For IndiGo, an airline whose maintenance staff is reportedly disgruntled over salary issues, it was the second incident of technical snag over the last four days. Official sources said all 125 passengers on board the aircraft were taken to the transit lounge at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and given refreshments. The second engine of the aircraft had developed an issue, they said. The passengers had to spend around 10 hours before they boarded an alternative flight.
On Thursday, IndiGo’s Delhi-Vadodara flight made an unscheduled stop at Jaipur after vibration lasting for a second in of the aircraft’s engines was noticed.
IndiGo’s maintenance issues have come under the scanner after a sizeable number of its maintenance technicians went on sick leave last week to protest “low salaries”.
Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar, while responding to queries from The Tribune, said that “technicians’ issue had been resolved”. He described it as a “minor” issue. On the diversion of the Sharjah-Hyderabad flight to Karachi, Kumar said it was “precautionary” landing by the aircraft.
SpiceJet is already under regulatory scanner. On July 6, the DGCA issued a show-cause notice to the airline following at least eight incidents of technical malfunction in its aircraft since June 19.
