Jet Airways pilot and crew members suspended following incident in Mumbai

MUMBAI - The Pilot in Command (PIC), First officer, four cabin crew members and four ACMs have been suspended following a preliminary investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) into the incident of the Jet Airways Flight 9W2302 occurred on Friday in Mumbai.

Serious procedural lapses by the operating aircraft crew members have been discovered.

“Preliminary fact finding by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has indicated serious procedural lapses in dealing with the emergency and evacuation situation as per existing procedures laid down in aircraft rules and regulations, by the operating aircraft crew members of the Jet airways flight 9W2302 scheduled to fly from Mumbai to Chennai yesterday,” said an official release.

“Hence the Pilot in Command (PIC), First officer, four cabin crew members and four ACMs have been suspended till further orders,” it added.

This incident has been treated as serious incident and will be investigated under rule 77C of Aircraft Rules 1937 by a team comprising of Director Air safety Mumbai, Flight Operation Inspector and Cabin Safety Incharge of DGCA.

On August 27, 2010, the Captain and the First Officer were operating the flight 9W2302 on Mumbai-Chennai Sector. There were four cabin crew members, as per the requirements; 131 passengers including one infant and Nine Additional crew members (8 cabin crew + one trainee Pilot).

During the taxiing of aircraft, an Additional Crew Member (ACM), travelling as a passenger, seated on 35A apparently observed fire on the Left Engine and informed another ACM also travelling as a passenger, seated on 35B, who also claimed to have seen the fire.

The Additional Crew Member seated on 35B immediately went back and contacted Captain from aft right door location (R-2). He also informed Cabin crew assigned for aft left door (L2). Pilot immediately asked L2 cabin crew to confirm the fire and report. She also confirmed to the Captain.

The Pilot, on receiving the confirmation pulled the fire handles for left engine, right engine and APU. However he did not discharge any of the fire bottles. Pilot ordered the evacuation from the aircraft.

Escape slide on front and aft doors on the right side (R1 and R2) and both the over wing emergency exits were deployed. On the left side, the aft door (L2) and rear over wing emergency exit were also deployed. The airport fire and rescue services personnel immediately reached the site.

During the evacuation, 14 passengers sustained injuries.

“After the evacuation the aircraft inspection was carried out in the night time under supervision of DGCA team. No fire or smoke was observed in the engine area. Both the engines were checked and boroscope inspection was carried out. No abnormality was observed in engines and its systems. CVR and DFDR have been removed,” the release said.

“The DGCA has also called for a meeting of the Heads of training of all Airlines to review the training procedures of cabin and flight crews, particularly in emergency and evacuation procedures,” it further stated. (ANI)