DGCA suspends Jet Airways crew

Mumbai: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has supended the Jet Airways crew following a false fire alarm.
It said there were serious lapses in emergency procedures as a result of which 26 passengers were injured in a minor stampede.
Jet Airways, on the other hand, maintained that the emergency exit doors of the plane were opened by frightened passengers and not by the cabin crew. But the carrier said it was willing to accept any action after the investigation is over.
Sources said the Jet Airways cabin crew panicked and did not follow the necessary evacuation procedures. They apparently got nervous and opened all the exit doors.
"The left side door should not have been opened as fire was reported on that side of the plane," sources said.
However, it was later found out that there was no fire alarm by the fire detection system installed in the plane. In fact, the crew members of another flight travelling on the plane raised the alarm first.
The DGCA and Jet Airways have ordered separate inquiries after 26 passengers were injured. The pilot and crew of the flight were also derostered.
The incident occurred after the pilot ordered an emergency evacuation after a fire alarm went off, indicating the left-hand side engine of the Boeing 737 twin engine had caught fire. But Jet Airways in a statement said the fire was a false alarm.
28/08/10 CNN-IBN

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: airports aug 2010, Jet Airways Aug 2010, Safety Aug 2010