Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.

Airlines

DGCA Grounds IndiGo Pilots After Tailstrike on Delhi-Bengaluru Flight

On September 9, 2024, an IndiGo flight bound for Bengaluru experienced a significant tailstrike incident at Delhi airport.

The flight, designated as 6E 6054 and operating an Airbus A321neo (VT-IBI), encountered a serious issue during takeoff, resulting in the aircraft being grounded for the past eight days.

The incident occurred when the rear part of the aircraft made contact with the runway, causing the plane to momentarily float in the air before settling back onto the runway. Following the tailstrike, airport authorities instructed the flight to stop.

The aircraft has been out of service since the event, and IndiGo has confirmed that it is currently undergoing maintenance. The airline stated, “The aircraft is currently under maintenance and will be back in operation post necessary repairs.”

In response to the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation regulator, has suspended the pilots involved. A senior official from the DGCA noted that the flight crew has been off rostered and that a thorough indigo seat map investigation into the incident is ongoing.

indigo has acknowledged the incident and assured the public that the aircraft will return to service only after all required repairs are completed. The airline added, “The incident is under investigation.”