‘We’re proud of them': SpiceJet lauds pilots of its Patna-Delhi flight

Captain Monika Khanna and first officer Balpreet Singh Bhatia were calm throughout the incident and handled the aircraft well, said Gurcharan Arora, the airline's chief of flight operations.

Published on: Jun 19, 2022, 18:51:06 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A senior SpiceJet official lauded the pilots of the airline's Patna-Delhi flight which, on Sunday, made emergency landing at the Patna airport after one of the aircraft's engines caught fire shortly after take-off for the national capital.

Passengers deboarding from SpiceJet flight (SG 725) at Patna airport after it caught fire mid-air. (HT PHOTO.)

Also Read | Delhi-bound SpiceJet aircraft catches fire mid-air, passengers safe

“Captain Monika Khanna and first officer Balpreet Singh Bhatia conducted themselves well during the incident. They were calm throughout, and handled the aircraft well. They are experienced officers and we're proud of them,” news agency ANI quoted Gurcharan Arora, SpiceJet's chief of flight operations, as saying.

Describing the incident, Arora further said, "Only a single engine was functioning when the plane landed back. Engineers inspected the aircraft, and confirmed that a fan blade and engine were damaged as a bird hit. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will probe further.'

Also Read | Bird hit or technical fault? What led to mid-air fire on SpiceJet plane?

As many as 185 passengers were onboard flight SG723, which took off for the Indira Gandhi International Airport from the Jayprakash Narayan International Airport, around 12noon. However, shortly after the take-off, the plane encountered a bird hit, which resulted in one of its engines catching fire.

The dramatic moment of the plane catching fire was recorded by onlookers from the ground. Eventually, the flight landed back safely at the Patna airport, with no injury reported to any passenger or crew member.

Also Read | Smoke from Delhi-Patna SpiceJet flight as it makes emergency landing

The flight was scheduled to reach Delhi at 1:30pm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Spicejet

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.