Mumbai: In a tragic incident at Mumbai Aiport, a technician of Air India was killed after he was sucked into a plane engine on Wednesday night. Sources said that the accident occurred as the plane's parking brakes were not deployed due to which the plane moved forward leading to the death of a ground staff.
According to sources, the aircraft is pushed back with the towing bar and once the plane reached the taxi-way a pin attached to the nose landing gear is removed by the technician. The removal of the pin allows the nose landing gear to retract after take off. Once this is done, a signal is given to the pilot that the plane is cleared for taxiing. However, the plane's parking brake was not deployed due to which it moved forward and the technician got sucked in.
The tow bar has also been damaged in the accident. During taxiing the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is used to run the AC and lights inside the aircraft. Sources said the APU was malfunctioning which may be one of the reasons why the engine was switched on.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Air India have ordered a probe into the incident.
The mishap occurred when the co-pilot of Mumbai-Hyderabad flight 619 mistook a signal for starting the engine and the victim, Ravi Subramanian, who was standing close, got sucked into it at bay 28 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji domestic airport around 9 PM.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said, "This is a sad incident. We have lost the life of a young technician. Air India Chairman and DGCA officials will visit the sight for further investigation, whoever is found guilty will be booked."
Confirming the incident, Air India Chairman Ashwani Lohani said the incident is being investigated.
"During the pushback, the co-pilot mistook a signal for engine start. As he switched on the engine, it sucked in the technician standing nearby," Air India sources said.
Lohani said he was deeply saddened by the tragic incident. "We are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport this evening when an Air India technician died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family," Lohani said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VIII) Virendra Mishra said the AI flight was scheduled to depart at 7:30 PM, but was delayed due to some technical reasons.
On being informed about the incident, police rushed to the spot and recovered the technician's body which was in a very bad shape, he said.
Police have conducted panchnama (spot inspection) and will seek legal opinion before filing a case, the DCP added.
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