Mumbai - A few days ago, an accident with an Air India plane was narrowly averted at Mumbai airport. This incident was not only very serious in terms of the safety of the passengers but also raises questions on India's aviation system. An Air India flight, which was landing in Mumbai after a completely normal flight on the route, suffered major damage to one of the engines during touchdown on the runway. Fortunately, there was no loss of life or property, but this accident has emerged as a big warning.
What happened to that Air India flight?
This incident happened when Air India flight number AI-657 was landing in Mumbai. The plane was coming from Trivandrum to Mumbai. During landing, the pilot suddenly heard a loud sound and the flight suddenly jerked down. Investigation revealed that the left engine of the plane (Engine 1) has suffered serious damage due to collision with the runway.
Engine damage: What happened from a technical perspective
Investigation has revealed that the aircraft's engine dragged along the runway during landing. This has caused severe damage to its fan blade and engine cowling. According to experts, this type of engine damage is a major alarm bell. This situation could possibly have been caused by flight imbalance or failure of the landing gear.
Passengers' reaction: A terrifying experience
For more than 180 passengers on the plane, this experience was no less than a nightmare. A passenger said, "There was a loud noise at the time of landing, and suddenly the plane tilted to the left. Everything came to a standstill for a few seconds." However, due to the alertness of the pilot, the plane was stopped on the runway and all the passengers were evacuated safely.
Air India statement: Investigation started, safety paramount
The official statement issued by Air India said that "We are taking this incident very seriously. A full investigation has been started in collaboration with DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)." The airline has removed the pilot and co-pilot from duty till the investigation is completed.
Air India said:
"For us, the safety of passengers is paramount. According to preliminary investigation, the possibility of some kind of technical fault or human error cannot be ruled out."
DGCA's cognizance and preliminary investigation
The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has placed this case in Category A Incident, which is one of the most serious categories. The agency has seized the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the aircraft and their investigation is going on. The DGCA team is trying to find out whether this incident was the pilot's mistake or the result of some technical deficiency.
Incidents are increasing continuously in the last few months
This is not the first time such an accident has happened for Air India. In the last few months, many incidents and technical flaws related to the airline have come to the fore. Let's take a look at some recent cases:
May 2024: Disturbance in cabin pressure in a flight from Delhi to Dubai.
March 2024: Incident of sudden falling of oxygen mask in Air India plane.
January 2024: Due to the negligence of the pilot, the plane took off late from the runway.
All these incidents have raised serious questions on the safety of passengers.
Was the pilot at fault in this incident?
Initial reports indicate that there was some serious disturbance in the landing angle and speed. Experts believe that if the pilot had controlled the thrust and descent angle properly, this accident could have been avoided. However, the final decision will come only after the DGCA report.
Opinion of technical experts
Aviation security experts say that such incidents usually occur when either the landing approach is wrong or the aircraft deviates from the prescribed vector and lands on the runway. Also, in this case, the engine hitting the runway indicates that either the aircraft was tilted too much or the landing gear was not fully extended.
The condition of the runway also became a question
After this incident, questions have also started being raised about the runway maintenance of Mumbai airport. According to sources, some reports have also said that this engine collision happened due to the depression present on the runway. If this has happened, then it becomes the responsibility of the airport authority.
What is the lesson from this incident?
Such incidents are not the responsibility of only one airline or pilot. They are a measure of the alertness and efficiency of the entire aviation system of the country. Without the combined role of Air India, DGCA, and Airport Authority – it is difficult to prevent such accidents.
Should passengers be afraid?
Such incidents certainly promote a sense of insecurity among passengers. But it is also true that India's aviation system is one of the fastest growing systems in the world. Despite this, more stringent standards, continuous training and technological upgrades are required for the safety of passengers.
Impact on Air India's brand image
Such an incident has further damaged the already struggling brand image of Air India. After the takeover by the Tata Group, people had a new hope about Air India. But repeated technical and operational glitches have weakened that image.
What steps will be taken in the future?
After DGCA's final report:
Changes in pilot training standards possible.
Engine checks and pre-flight inspections will be strengthened further.
Runway audits and airport infrastructure will be improved
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