Passengers injured in IndiGo Mumbai-Delhi flight evacuation
Captain got information about dense smoke from Air Traffic Control tower and immediately ordered evacuation, says the airline in a statement
New Delhi: An IndiGo aircraft flying from Mumbai with 148 passengers and six crew was evacuated after smoke was detected during landing at the Delhi airport. A few passengers were injured during evacuation.
“The aircraft touched down in Delhi on runway 27 at 15.35pm. As soon as the captain got the information about the dense smoke observed from the Air Traffic Control tower, he immediately ordered the crew to evacuate all passengers," the airline said in a statement. “Some of the passengers who suffered minor injuries during evacuation were given medical attention."
This is the second such incident in less than six months. An Indigo plane from Delhi with 182 people on board caught fire after landing at Kathmandu airport in February.
The aviation regulator has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Mohan Ranganathan, an aviation safety expert, pointed to the airline’s fuel savings policy as one potential reason. “A late high-speed touchdown and harsh braking could be the reason (for the fire). Trying to turn off at the first taxi exit from the runway in this condition is most likely," he said.
“The recent order of aviation ministry on training in Jet Airways must also flag Indigo. Looking at the number of runway excursions they have had and also the two recent events involving evacuation due to fire or smoke after landing indicates a serious deficiency in training and safety standards."
IndiGo declined comment on its fuel-saving policy. “It would be hasty and incorrect to make any more guesses at this stage," the airline’s spokesperson said.
Ranganathan, however, said the airline deployed wrong slides for evacuation and at least one passenger suffered a fracture. “If there is no fire, then there is no need to evacuate. Here again it looks like a panic evacuation," he said.
“The slides were deployed wrong. The forward door on the left and overwing exit on the left has not been deployed but the rear left slide is deployed. Did the crew forget to deploy those slides or was there a failure of the slides?"
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