10 Jet Airways staffers suspended over emergency evacuation

MUMBAI - The pilot and crew members of the Jet Airways flight involved in Friday night’s emergency evacuation have been suspended after a preliminary inquiry report found “serious procedural lapses”, an aviation authority said here Saturday.

The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)’s preliminary inquiry has indicated serious procedural lapses in dealing with the emergency and evacuation of the passengers as per procedures laid down in aircraft rules and regulations.

The DGCA probe holds responsible the crew members of the Jet Airways Mumbai-Chennai flight 9W-2302 for the mishap in which 25 passengers sustained injuries while evacuating the aircraft. The DGCA has suspended the flight commander, co-pilot, four cabin crew and four aircraft cabin maintenance members till further orders.

The DGCA has termed the incident “as serious” and said it would be investigated under Aircraft Rules, 1937’s Rule 77C by a team comprising Director of Air Safety, Mumbai, Flight Operations Inspector and the Cabin Safety in-Charge of DGCA.

The Jet Airways Mumbai-Chennai flight 9W-2302 with 145 passengers, including six crew members, was scheduled for departure around 9 p.m. Friday when some passengers noticed smoke emanating from the left engine of the craft.

The passengers were immediately evacuated through chutes, and some passengers got injured.