UK aviation watchdog seeks details from Air India on B787 fuel control switch issue
New Delhi/ Mumbai (PTI): The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has asked Air India to provide details of the incident of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft facing a fuel control switch issue at London's Heathrow airport before take off for Bengaluru on February 1, according to sources.
An Air India pilot reported on February 2 a defect with the fuel control switch of the Boeing 787-8 plane after operating the AI132 flight. The airline grounded the aircraft for checks after it landed in Bengaluru on February 2.
Indian aviation regulator DGCA's initial examination of the issue found that "apparently correct procedure" was not followed in operating the switch. The airline has been asked to ensure that the crew follows the right procedures.
On Wednesday, sources said the UK Civil Aviation Authority had sought details about the incident from Air India.
When contacted, an Air India spokesperson said the airline completed precautionary re-inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) across all operational Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and that no issues were identified during these checks.
"Air India will respond to the UK regulator accordingly," the spokesperson said.
A source on Tuesday had said the DGCA is likely to look at various aspects related to the incident, including whether the aircraft VT-ANX could have been grounded at London Heathrow itself rather than operating the flight to Bengaluru.
The functioning of the fuel control switch is in focus following the crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft that killed 260 people last June, as the preliminary probe report mentioned that fuel supply was cut off soon after take-off.
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IndiGo flight makes emergency landing in Raipur after passenger falls unconscious onboard
Raipur (PTI): A Kolkata-Pune IndiGo flight made an emergency landing at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur on Thursday after a woman passenger suffered a medical emergency mid-air, officials said.
After the passenger lost consciousness during the journey, the flight crew immediately alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) and sought urgent medical assistance, following which a decision was taken to land the aircraft in Raipur, an airport statement said.
"Flight 6E-135 was diverted and landed safely at the Raipur airport at around 12 noon. Upon landing, a medical team arranged by the Airports Authority of India provided first aid to the passenger. She was later shifted to a nearby hospital by ambulance for further treatment," it said.
After completion of necessary procedures and the situation normalised, the flight resumed its journey to Pune at around 1 pm, an official said.
The entire operation was handled swiftly and in a coordinated manner, ensuring passenger safety and minimal disruption, he added.
