FEAR continues to loom large among ground staffers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport following the gruesome death of service engineer Ravi Subramanian on Wednesday night after an Air India aircraft’s engine sucked him in. While flights continue to operate as per schedule, several ground support technicians admitted they are wary of another accident.
“There is shock even now as ground staff works. The threat to their lives existed before as well, but now it has become more pronounced,” said a member from All India Cabin Crew Association.
According to him, staffers have neither protested nor refused to work, but the fear is palpable. “It is important to follow all standard operating procedures laid down by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” he further added.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Pradeep Rawat, maintenance manager of Indigo airlines said that the mail that he sent to to his seniors on Thursday, highlighting the safety violations observed by eyewitnesses during the pushback of AI 619, was done to prepare his own team. “The mail was meant to alert engineers and technicians that it is of prime importance to follow all safety protocols,” he said.
A circular was also issued by All India Service Engineer Association (AISEA) to its engineers asking them to “first follow safety norms laid down by DGCA even if there is pressure to ensure a timely flight take off”.
19/12/15 Tabassum Barnagarwala/The Indian Express
“There is shock even now as ground staff works. The threat to their lives existed before as well, but now it has become more pronounced,” said a member from All India Cabin Crew Association.
According to him, staffers have neither protested nor refused to work, but the fear is palpable. “It is important to follow all standard operating procedures laid down by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” he further added.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Pradeep Rawat, maintenance manager of Indigo airlines said that the mail that he sent to to his seniors on Thursday, highlighting the safety violations observed by eyewitnesses during the pushback of AI 619, was done to prepare his own team. “The mail was meant to alert engineers and technicians that it is of prime importance to follow all safety protocols,” he said.
A circular was also issued by All India Service Engineer Association (AISEA) to its engineers asking them to “first follow safety norms laid down by DGCA even if there is pressure to ensure a timely flight take off”.
19/12/15 Tabassum Barnagarwala/The Indian Express