E-Paper
GoAir Mumbai-Chennai flight hit by aerobridge, passengers safe
Budget airliner GoAir cancelled its Chennai-Port Blair flight on Friday after the aircraft was damaged when it was hit by the aerobridge. The GoAir aircraft had landed in Chennai (Mumbai-Chennai G8305) with 168 passengers on board, and the aerobridge was being connected to the aircraft when the mishap occurred. The flight had landed at 6.45am.
A GoAir plane carrying at least 170 passengers from Mumbai to Chennai on Friday was hit by an aerobridge after landing at Chennai airport, a spokesperson of the budget airline said.
While nobody was hurt in the incident, the aircraft was rendered unfit for its subsequent operation to Port Blair and many travellers bound to the Andamans were held up in Chennai for the day.
"GoAir Flight G8-305 was hit by an aerobridge this morning at 6.35am. The aircraft was stationary and was waiting for the aerobridge to be connected. The AAI operator was unable to safely align the aerobridge to the aircraft as he was too fast and thus could not control its movement... causing this unfortunate incident," said the spokesperson.
"Customers booked on the onward Chennai-Port Blair flight and those on other subsequent flights, have been re-accommodated on our flights tomorrow or on other airlines," the spokesperson added.
According to sources, the plane's body has suffered significant damage. They added that engineers from Mumbai will check the damage and repair the plane which will be allowed to take off only after experts certify its airworthiness.
The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe into the incident.
