SpiceJet's Flight 945 Under Scrutiny Following Passenger Injuries During Turbulence
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India is investigating the incident that occurred on May 1 on SpiceJet Flight 945 from Mumbai to Durgapur in West Bengal.
According to News18, the autopilot system of the Boeing 737-800 plane failed for two minutes during the flight, forcing the crew to take manual control. This resulted in severe turbulence that caused luggage to fly loose, objects to scatter within the cabin, and oxygen masks to deploy. The turbulence left fifteen people - twelve passengers and three crew members - injured, leading them to seek medical attention upon landing at Qazi Nazrul Islam (RDP) airport in Durgapur.
A SpiceJet spokesperson spoke with CNN, stating, "When the plane encountered turbulence, the seatbelt warning light came on. The pilot and crew made multiple announcements instructing passengers to stay seated and fasten seatbelts. Some passengers were injured due to the intense turbulence."
The DGCA immediately took action following the event. The aircraft was grounded for an inspection in Kolkata, and the agency requested several crew members and the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) from Durgapur to leave the aircraft after the incident.
Indian Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, expressed concern on Twitter, stating, "This matter is being treated with utmost seriousness and flexibility." Scindia described the situation as "regrettable" for the passengers.
News18 confirmed that two passengers were critical and remained hospitalized, with one suffering from a head injury and the other from a spinal cord injury.
SpiceJet expressed remorse for the unfortunate event and promised to provide all necessary medical assistance to the injured passengers.
CNN requested additional information and commentary from the DGCA.
Despite the turbulent incident, many passengers decided to continue their journey, with the affected SpiceJet flight scheduled for a vacation trip to a popular tourist destination.
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Added Insights:
- Investigation Process:
- Following the incident, the DGCA typically conducts a thorough investigation. They collect data from the flight's black box, interview crew members, and analyze the aircraft's maintenance history.
- Actions by DGCA and Indian Authorities:
- If the investigation reveals any mechanical or procedural issues, the DGCA might issue safety directives to avoid future incidents. This could include mandatory inspections, software updates, or changes in operational procedures.
- The DGCA might also impose penalties or take disciplinary actions against the airline or crew members if they find any lapses in safety protocols.
- If human error is identified, the DGCA may provide additional training to the crew to address the specific issues found during the investigation.
Since the provided sources do not contain specific details about SpiceJet Flight 945 or the actions taken by the DGCA and Indian authorities, it remains unclear precisely what caused the incident or the specific actions implemented. However, in general, regulatory bodies like the DGCA investigate incidents thoroughly and implement corrective measures to maintain aviation safety.
