Indigo and GoAir ban Kamra citing 'safety of passenger'; report says 6 times airlines put flyers in danger

Hyderabad: Indigo airline suspended comedian Kunal Kamra, a day after a video went viral, wherein he is seen having a one-sided conversation with journalist Arab Goswani on a flight. While other airlines like GoAir, Air India and Spicejet followed with an abeyance order.

Indigo airline cited ‘safety of fellow passengers’ while banning the comedian for a period of six months. While GoAir and SpiceJet said till further orders and advised other passengers to keep away from ‘personal slanders’ during travel.

However, take a look at the numerous accounts where 'passengers safety' was at a stake due to the negligence of Indigo and GoAir staff.

According to the report submitted to the parliament by Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of state (IC) in the ministry of civil aviation, there were six cases of an ‘air turn back’ reported in a short period — i.e. October to November ( until 15th) 2019, in order words ‘life threatening to air passengers’.

An air turn back is when the crew decides to return to the airport of departure for reasons known to them.

Notably, all six flights that witnessed inflight shut down were operating on unmodified Pratt and Whitney (P&W) engines. While five cases were of Indigo and one by GoAir.

Out of the six, the last incident of an air turn back happened in Hyderabad. On November 2, a GoAir flight (A320) from Patna to Hyderabad operating on an unmodified P&W engine, encountered a technical snag. Investigations found that during the climb, the second engine’s high vibration caution came on. However, within a short time, the craft went off. All engine parameters of both engines were found normal. An in-flight shut down was carried out, and the plane landed at Patna airport.

According to Civil Aviation officials, all six cases of an air turn back were reported by Indian scheduled airlines with P&W 1100 G engines on Airbus A320 Neo aircraft. There was no consequential damage to the plane, and no injuries to any person on board were reported for the

six cases.

As a result, the civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to replace all unmodified engines. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, said, “In light of the inflight shutdown incidents, the directorate has asked airlines to replace all unmodified engines with modified engines by January 31, 2020. In the interest of safety, airlines flying A320 fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines have been asked to operate only those that have at least one modified engine.”

Highlights:

Details of incidents of air turn back during October and November:

1. 24-09-2019: Kolkata-Chennai Indigo flight encountered high vibration from engine 2 during the trip. The aircraft was forced to turn back at Kolkata.

2. 25-10-2019: Mumbai-Coimbatore Indigo. The engine 2 of the craft stalled while climbing and followed by high vibration. The engine had to be shut down, and inflight shut down was ordered.

3. 26-10-2019: Delhi Indigo flight’s engine 2 stalled followed vibrations. An air turn back was ordered

4. 28 -10-2019: Ahmedabad-Varanasi Indigo flight’s problem occurred with engine 2.

5. 30-10-2019: Kolkata-Pune Indigo Flight had to turn back to the departure airport, as a loud bang emanated out of engine 1, followed by vibrations.

6. 02-11-19: Patna- Hyderabad Go Air flight encountered a technical snag during the climb, and it had to land at Patna.