A SpiceJet aircraft with passengers on board was damaged on Monday at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after its wing collided with a pole as it was being reversed by a push back operator from its parking position prior to take off to Jammu, officials said.
No passenger was hurt, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation regulator, has de-rostered airline employees involved in the incident.
The incident occurred at around 9.20am, when the SpiceJet-operated Boeing 737-800 was being reversed by a push back operator in coordination with an aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) and two wing walkers.
Airport officials said the aircraft was to be pushed back till taxi line F6, but went beyond the taxi line till the apron edge marking. While the aircraft was being aligned, the trailing portion of the right wing collided with the light pole on the apron.
“Due to this impact, the aileron on the right wing’s trailing edge got damaged,” an airport official said.
A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed the incident, and said an alternative flight was arranged for the passengers, which departed five-and-a-half hours later at 2.45pm.
“SpiceJet flight SG 160 was scheduled to operate between Delhi and Jammu. During push back, the right wing trailing edge came in close contact with a pole, causing damage to aileron. A replacement aircraft was arranged to operate the flight,” the spokesperson said.
{{/usCountry}}“SpiceJet flight SG 160 was scheduled to operate between Delhi and Jammu. During push back, the right wing trailing edge came in close contact with a pole, causing damage to aileron. A replacement aircraft was arranged to operate the flight,” the spokesperson said.
{{/usCountry}}An airport official said that as the aileron had been damaged, it was unsafe to travel and had to be inspected. “As with any incident, fire and other emergency officials were rushed to the spot, but all passengers were safe and sustained no injury,” the official said.
Arun Kumar, DGCA director general, said that all the airline employees involved in the incident — both pilots, the AME, wing walkers and push back operators — have been de-rostered. He also confirmed that a breath analyser test of the employees came back negative.
“Officers from the Director Air Safety (DAS) of the northern region have visited the site for further investigations,” Kumar said.