Malaysian aircraft grounded at Mumbai airport

A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 has been grounded at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport since Wednesday night after one of the aircraft’s engines was damaged when the aerobridge brushed against it while being retracted.

The incident occurred a few minutes before midnight, after the doors of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH 195 to Kuala Lumpur were shut for take-off. “Some of the 170 passengers were put on a Singapore Airlines flight and others were accommodated in hotels,’’ said M Shaifuddin Kamaruddin, Area Manager (western region), Malaysia Airlines. While the airline declined to quantify the loss, airport sources reveal that the damage will be to the tune of Rs 5 crore. “The plane was significantly damaged, and strips of silver-rimming of the engine actually came undone in the incident,’’ said a source.

Meanwhile, the aerobridge operator in question, S Jaiswal, aged about 50, has been taken off duty. Sources say that Jaiswal, a diabetic patient, has been experiencing problems with his vision because of his sugar levels which could have resulted in the incident. However, the Airports Authority of India Employees’ Union to which Jaiswal belongs alleged that the aerobridge was faulty. “The monitor which shows the position of the aircraft with respect to the aerobridge was dysfunctional, and this led to the incident,’’ they said.

At Mumbai, the aerobridges are operated by 40-50 Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees, who work in three shifts. Airport operator MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Ltd) has instituted an investigation, which will be over by November 7, according to a spokesperson. The airline is also likely to claim damages from MIAL, although Kamaruddin said, “details cannot be revealed, since the matter is still under investigation.

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