PATNA, June 19: A Patna-Delhi Spicejet aircraft carrying 180 passengers and six crew made
an emergency landing after its engine caught fire on Sunday morning. Even as
it was landing smoke was billowing out of the plane. The fire was first noticed
by villagers who informed the airport and a major mishap was averted.
Passengers alleged that they felt something wrong with the plane even as it
was taking off. It was not even going up as it should have. It was airborne
for 25 minutes even as it was on fire. They say there might not have been proper
technical check and clearance.
The aircraft, Boeing 737-800, had met with another mishap last month. The flight had undergone severe turbulence approaching Durgapur airport on May 1 in heavy rain and storm. It had been fined earlier also by the DGCA for non-compliance of aviation guidelines, especially its pilots not being given proper training in the new Boeing models.
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The flight landed safely in Patna airport.
"Cockpit crew of Patna-Delhi SpiceJet flight after take-off during rotation
suspected bird hit on engine no. 1. As a precautionary measure, the flight captain
shut down the affected engine and returned to Patna. Post-flight inspection
shows bird hit with three fan blades damaged," said a Spicejet spokesperson.
The director of Patna airport has said that SpiceJet has arranged an alternative
flight for the passengers. "None of the passengers have been hurt. Their journey
to Delhi is being arranged by an alternative aircraft. What caused the fire
is a matter of investigation," he said.
