Aviation

Punching IndiGo Pilot Incident: These are Possible Actions Taken by Authorities Against Passenger

A disturbing incident unfolded on an IndiGo flight when a passenger, identified as Sahil Kataria, physically assaulted the aircraft’s pilot during an announcement about delays.

The incident occurred on flight 6E-2175 from Delhi to Goa, which experienced significant delays due to fog on a Sunday. Following the assault, the pilot promptly filed a complaint against Sahil Kataria, prompting the airline to initiate the process of filing an official case. The airline quickly removed the unruly passenger from the aircraft, handing him over to the authorities for further action.

A passenger punched an Indigo capt in the aircraft as he was making delay announcement. The guy ran up from the last row and punched the new Capt who replaced the previous crew who crossed FDTL. Unbelievable ! @DGCAIndia @MoCA_GoI pic.twitter.com/SkdlpWbaDd
— Capt_Ck (@Capt_Ck) January 14, 2024

In response to this disturbing incident, the Indian civil aviation regulator, @DGCAIndia, outlined two potential levels of unruly behavior on an aircraft as depicted in the video. These levels include Level 2, characterized by physically abusive actions such as pushing, kicking, hitting, or inappropriate touching, and Level 3, involving life-threatening behavior like damage to aircraft operating systems or physical violence endangering lives.

The Civil Aviation Requirements mandate a series of steps to address such incidents. First, the Commander of the aircraft is required to file an FIR. Then, the incident must be reported to various authorities, including airline security officials, the SHO of the airport police station, CISF, BCAS, and the airport operator. Subsequently, the airline is obligated to establish an Internal Committee within 30 days to determine the level of unruly behavior exhibited by the passenger.

During the committee’s deliberation period, the airline has the authority to temporarily ban the unruly passenger from flying, not exceeding 30 days. Simultaneously, the passenger is placed on a No Fly List maintained by the DGCA, and this information is shared with other airlines. The No Fly List empowers other airlines to make decisions regarding the banned passenger, with Level 2 offenses resulting in a ban of up to six months, and Level 3 offenses warranting a minimum ban of 2 years or more, without a set limit.

The comprehensive regulatory framework underscores the gravity of such incidents and emphasizes the collective efforts of aviation authorities to ensure the safety and security of air travel.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.