New Delhi: Air India has grounded two of its pilots for reportedly endangering the lives of passengers by not switching off an engine that was giving the warning of running low on oil. While standard operating procedure in such a situation is to switch off such a engine within seconds to avoid the possibility of it catching fire and leading to a disaster, the pilots of AI 452 kept the low oil pressure engine of the Airbus A-321 flying from Vizag to Delhi on May 26 running for almost 11 minutes.
The passengers got lucky with the pilots finally — after a long delay — remembered to switch off the engine and diverting the aircraft to the nearest airport, Nagpur, on the single functional engine. However, the engine was not that lucky. While switching it off instantly after getting the low oil warning would have meant AI get away with minor repairs, the delay has led to it being a complete waste and requiring a replacement — something that will cost the airline several crores apart from losses caused by grounding of the aircraft.
"After examining the engine, the manufacturer, CFM, has reportedly told AI that it is a total loss. They have said the pilots should have switched it off in 30 seconds while they did so after 11 minutes," said sources.
04/06/13 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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The passengers got lucky with the pilots finally — after a long delay — remembered to switch off the engine and diverting the aircraft to the nearest airport, Nagpur, on the single functional engine. However, the engine was not that lucky. While switching it off instantly after getting the low oil warning would have meant AI get away with minor repairs, the delay has led to it being a complete waste and requiring a replacement — something that will cost the airline several crores apart from losses caused by grounding of the aircraft.
"After examining the engine, the manufacturer, CFM, has reportedly told AI that it is a total loss. They have said the pilots should have switched it off in 30 seconds while they did so after 11 minutes," said sources.
04/06/13 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
