News

GoAir flight emergency landing: Teens spot plane fire, alert saves 194 lives

THE ALERTNESS of two teenagers of Goyla Dairy village in southwest Delhi’s Dwarka saved the lives of 194 people onboard a Bengaluru-bound GoAir flight on Wednesday, after they spotted fire and smoke from the tail of the aircraft and alerted the Delhi Police Control Room. The flight captain was informed and the aircraft made an emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International airport.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (airport) Sanjay Bhatia said they received a call at 7.40 pm. “We immediately verified the caller and informed the agencies concerned following which the flight made the emergency landing at 7.47 pm on Runway 28,” he added.

The passengers were accommodated in another flight. “G8-557 Delhi-Bengaluru flight made an emergency landing at Delhi airport at 19.53 hours due to technical reasons,” a statement by GoAir said. “After receiving the call from Delhi Police, CISF security personnel immediately conveyed the message to Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) and to the Air Traffic Control (ATC). Within minutes, the GoAir flight, which took off at 7.28 pm from the IGI airport, was identified,” sources said.

The captain was alerted and was asked to return, after which the flight asked for help and a full emergency was declared due to failure of one engine. “All necessary precautions were taken and fire safety and ambulances were kept on standby to handle any untoward situation,” an officer said.

Saurabh Tandon, who was on the flight, said, “At least five to seven minutes after take-off, I heard people screaming about a fire. As I looked to my left, I noticed that the left engine had caught fire. The plane was flying at around 5,000-6,000 feet. The fire, which lasted for about 30 seconds, somehow went off, probably because the pilots switched off the engine,” he added.

His alertness, prompt call averted tragedy

Rohit Singh (17) was sitting on his terrace, along with his cousin Nitin, when they saw an airplane fly over. The boys were stunned when they saw the tail of the airplane on fire.

Rohit, a Class XII student, said he was unable to discern what he had seen, so he called out to his father. “Initially, I thought something had happened to Rohit, but then he pointed towards the fire coming out of the airplane. Without wasting any time, I called up the Delhi Police,” said Rohit’s father, Navneet Singh.

News Courtesy : The Indian Express

Related Topics:Delhi Airport go air Rohit Singh

Airlines

Alaska Airlines Acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines Reshapes the Air Travel Landscape

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK) and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) jointly announced today the execution of a definitive agreement, signifying Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines at a cash price of $18.00 per share. The total transaction value stands at approximately $1.9 billion, encompassing Hawaiian Airlines’ net debt of $0.9 billion.

The combination of complementary domestic, international, and cargo networks

This strategic union is poised to open up an array of additional destinations, providing consumers with increased choices in crucial air service options across the Pacific region, Continental United States, and globally.

The transaction is anticipated to establish a robust platform for growth and competition in the U.S., offering enduring employment opportunities, ongoing community investments, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Key Points:

Acquisition Overview:
- Alaska Air Group to acquire Hawaiian Holdings for $18.00 per share in an all-cash transaction, totaling approximately $1.9 billion.
- Combined company aims to maintain the strong, high-quality brands of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
Fleet Expansion and Network Reach:
- Creates the fifth-largest U.S. airline with a fleet of 365 narrow and wide-body airplanes.
- Enables access to 138 destinations through combined networks and over 1,200 destinations via the oneworld Alliance.
Hub Development and Connectivity:
- Honolulu to become a key hub for the combined airline, offering expanded services to the Continental U.S., Asia, and the Pacific.
- Tripling the number of destinations from Hawai‘i to North America, while maintaining robust Neighbor Island service.
Commitment to Hawai‘i:
- Strong commitment to Hawai‘i, ensuring robust Neighbor Island air service.
- Aiming for a more competitive platform supporting growth, job opportunities, community investment, and environmental stewardship.
Employee and Union Commitment:
- Commitment to maintaining and growing the union-represented workforce in Hawai‘i.
- Immediate value creation with at least $235 million of expected run-rate synergies.
Investor Call and Timeline:
- Investor conference call scheduled for today at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. HT.
- Anticipated closing of the transaction within 12-18 months.
Strategic and Financial Rationale:
- Complementary networks to enhance competition and provide greater choice for consumers.
- Preservation of both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines’ brands on a single operating platform.
- Expected to deliver high single-digit earnings accretion for Alaska Airlines within the first two years.
Community and Sustainability Commitment:
- Focus on growth in union-represented jobs and strong operational presence in Hawai‘i.
- Commitment to environmental stewardship, aligning with Alaska Airlines’ five-part path to net zero by 2040.
Synergies and Accretion:
- Expected run-rate synergies of at least $235 million.
- Transaction multiple of 0.7 times revenue, approximately one third the average of recent airline transactions.
Conditions to Close:

Approval by regulatory authorities and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. shareholders.
Expected to close in 12-18 months, with the combined organization based in Seattle under the leadership of Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci.