Ministry orders probe, Air India de-rosters pilots
As many as 130 passengers and six-member crew onboard a Dubai-bound Air India Express flight had a narrow escape as its wheels hit the perimeter wall at Tiruchirappalli airport while the plane was taking off early on Friday.
Unaware of the damage to the Boeing B737-800 flight IX-611 caused by the grazing on an airport wall, the pilots continued their journey.
After commander of the aircraft Capt D Ganesh Babu was informed of the Trichy incident, he reported that the aircraft systems were operating normally. However, the flight was diverted to Mumbai, where the aircraft made a safe emergency landing around 5.40 am. No one was injured in the accident.
Later, the affected passengers left for Dubai in another flight with a fresh set of crew.
Pending investigations into the Trichy incident, Air India has de-rostered both the pilots — Capt Babu, with flying experience of 3,600 hours on a Boeing 737 including 500 hours as a commander, and co-pilot Capt Anurag with experience of around 3,000 hours.
After the aircraft hit the peripheral wall of Trichy aircraft, the belly of the Air India Express aircraft was badly damaged, while a sizeable portion of thick red brick wall lay demolished. The airline officials in Mumbai are examining the damaged aircraft.
“After flight IX 611 from Trichy to Dubai had taken off from Trichy about 1.30 am today, it was reported by local Airport officials at Trichy, that they have observed that the aircraft might have come in contact with the airport perimeter wall,” a statement by the Air India Express said.
Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu has ordered an enquiry into the incident.
In a series of tweets put out after the mishap, Prabhu said. “Spoke to Secretary and other senior officials of @MoCA_GoI and directed them to conduct a high-level enquiry into the incident.
“In a recent review on airline safety, I have ordered to put in place a third party professional organisation to look into various safety aspects at @airindiain. In order to have continuous attention towards air safety, I have also ordered concerned officials to put in place a regular ‘safety compliance report’ of all airlines.”
“Safety of the passengers is of paramount importance for us. We will take all that’s required to put safety on top of aviation agenda. Growth can’t be at the expense of safety,” Prabhu tweeted.
“Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officers are at site for preliminary inquiry and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau officers have also been deputed. The Air India has constituted a sub-committee of the Board headed by an Independent Director of the Board for looking at all safety related issues within the organisation including subsidiaries,” Prabhu added.