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Air hostess falls out of Air India plane at Mumbai airport before departure, injured
The incident took place when the flight AI 864, a Boeing 777-337 aircraft was being readied for its scheduled departure around 7 am.
A 53-year-old flight attendant of Air India fell 20 feet from an aircraft while performing a pre-flight check on it at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai, early on Monday morning. Harsha Lobo suffered fractures in her legs and also injuries to her spine and chest after she fell into the gap between the door and the step ladder which wasn’t aligned. The airline said in a statement that it was investigating the incident, but has not fixed responsibility for the accident.
Flight AI 864 was being readied for its scheduled departure around 7 am; passengers were to board from 6.20 am. Lobo was checking the door at 6.10 am and fell.
A senior airline official said on the condition of anonymity that “there was a gap between the aircraft and the step ladder... The crew slipped off the door while closing the door before the passengers could start boarding the aircraft”.
The Boeing 777-337, which carries around 340 passengers in three classes, has 10 doors and aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) makes its mandatory for the cabin crew to keep two doors open whether or not the aircraft is connected to an aerobridge. This is for safety and ventilation.
“While the other ladder was aligned well with the aircraft, the ladder near L5 door wasn’t aligned, which led to the incident,” added the official.
Former pilot and aviation expert Vipul Saxena said, “This incident looks like an error of judgement wherein the cabin crew assumed that the ladder is still attached; however the actual cause will be revealed once the enquiry is over.”
Mohan Ranganathan, an aviation safety expert, said the aircraft door requires tremendous force to close it. “The crew member might have not held the door handle tightly and hence would have slipped while closing it,” he said.
“This indicates that she wasn’t trained properly.”
Lobo underwent urgent surgery to treat the fractures, and doctors said her condition was stable. She is current under observation at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital. “We have operated upon her right leg near the foot where she suffered a compound fracture. Both her heels were also fractured along with a soft tissue injury to the chest, abdomen and lower spine,” said Dr Rajendra Patankar, chief operating officer, Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital.
Treating orthopaedic surgeons said Lobo was being kept under observation for 48 hours and she may need another surgery. “The surgery was successful and she is responding well to the treatment. But due to seriousness of the injuries, she is being kept under observation. Further course of action will be decided after 48-72 hours which is a normal ICU observation period for accident victims,” said Dr PM Doshi, director of orthopaedic and traumatology department, Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital.
Lobo, who is designated as a manager, has over 25 years of experience as a cabin attendant.
Air India officials said investigation was under process, but did not hold anybody responsible for the accident. An official said, “The crew member slipped off the door while closing it before the passengers could start boarding the aircraft.”
Air India said that the flight eventually left after a 90-minute delay at 8:30 am.
