Thaindian News

Mumbai, Sept 5 (IBNS) Pilots of the Boeing 747 Air India (AI) flight, whose left engine caught fire Friday at the Mumbai airport, have been de-rostered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Saturday.

“The pilots have been de-rostered and called in for an enquiry as to why they could not apprehend the leakage in the fuel tank before taking off and act accordingly,” said an AI official on conditions of anonymity.

Meanwhile, DGCA sources said: “It is the pilot’s duty to conduct a pre-flight inspection and report any malfunction immediately to the flight engineer. The AI 829 pilots have to answer why they failed in their duty Friday.”

Initial reports have confirmed that a leak in the fuel tank of the AI flight triggered the fire in its left engine Friday.

“Oil was found sipping out of a leak in the fuel tank at the wings of the aircraft. Preliminary reports suggest the fuel tickled to the wings and the left engine. The heat of the engine caused fire,” Air India officials told news channels Friday.

“This is a sheer example of poor maintenance and negligence. This is no ordinary fire…this could have led to a major catastrophe,” air safety expert Capt. Mohan Ranganathan told Times Now.

Meanwhile, a maintenance engineer of Air India has been de-rostered after this incident.

The DGCA has already ordered a probe into the incident.

According to media reports, 21 out of the 213 passengers on board received minor injuries while they were being evacuated via slides. Six were taken to air medical centre for first aid.

Around 10.50 am Friday, passengers noticed sparks from the left engine of the aircraft minutes while taxiing for take off. The Flight AI 829 was immediately grounded and passengers evacuated.

Four fire engines rushed to the spot and doused the flames in about two hours’ time.