Flyers bled as Jet Airways pilots forgot to maintain cabin pressure, crew grounded
The Mumbai-Jaipur flight, which took off around 6am, had to turn back mid-air as low cabin pressure caused several passengers to bleed and suffer headaches.
Several passengers on a Jet Airways Mumbai-Jaipur flight suffered nose and ear bleeding on Thursday morning as the pilots forgot to switch on the system to maintain cabin pressure, the DGCA said.
“The 9W 697 Mumbai-Jaipur flight was turned back to Mumbai after take off as, during the climb, crew forgot to select switch to maintain cabin pressure. This resulted in the oxygen masks dropping. Thirty out of 166 passengers experienced nose and ear bleeding, some also complained of headache,” Lalit Gupta, deputy director general, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said.
The crew has been taken off duty and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started an investigation, DGCA added. Ministry of Civil Aviation has requested DGCA to file its report immediately on the issue. .
The passengers are being treated at Mumbai airport.
In a statement, Jet Airways said the B737 aircraft landed normally in Mumbai. “All guests were deplaned safely and taken to the terminal. First aid was administered to few guests who complained of ear pain, bleeding nose etc. The flight’s cockpit crew has been taken off scheduled duties pending investigation. The airline is making alternative flight arrangements for guests on this flight. Jet Airways regrets the inconvenience caused to its guests.”
Several passengers posted images from inside the plane, that showed that oxygen masks had been deployed due to the low cabin pressure.
News agency ANI reported that the flight will take off from Mumbai for Jaipur at 10:15 am.