Narrow escape for Rajasthan CM

New Delhi: Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia had a narrow escape on Thursday evening when the six-seater Beachcraft 100 aircraft taking her to Jaipur first developed a snag shortly after take off from IGI. And when it returned to make an emergency landing in a few minutes, the plane's nosewheel collapsed while it was taxiing to the terminal. The CM was immediately taken out safely along with three officials but the plane got stuck on the taxiway so close to the main runway that the main airstrip had to be closed for operations for about one-and-a-half hours in peak evening rush time, leaving behind some delayed flights.
A directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) team went to examine the plane and then got it removed from the taxiway so that simultaneous use of runways could start taking place in the evening peak hour. "A probe has been ordered and the two pilots are being quizzed. The preliminary investigation shows that the nosewheel was not properly locked because of which it collapsed. We are finding from the pilots if they had ensured that all front and rear wheels were out properly and locked," said a senior DGCA official. If a wheel is not locked properly, then the landing gear may collapse as the plane touches down with an impact.
25/05/07 Times of India

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Categories: Safety May 2007