DGCA probe into improper landing by Jet aircraft

A Jet Airways flight carrying 100 passengers from Mumbai landed at Rajkot with the pilots allegedly not informing the air traffic control (ATC) officials about which end of the runway the aircraft would touch down on.

A Jet Airways flight carrying 100 passengers from Mumbai landed at Rajkot with the pilots allegedly not informing the air traffic control (ATC) officials about which end of the runway the aircraft would touch down on.

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The incident took place on February 7 but the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) began an investigation into the matter on Wednesday because the airline allegedly did not report the safety lapse.

A Jet Airways spokesperson, however, claimed the incident was reported to the safety regulator. “Jet Airways encourages voluntary confidential reporting to promote a healthy safety culture. This particular report has been referred to the regulator,” said the spokesperson.

“The prima facie evidence hints at a procedural safety lapse. But it is too early to draw conclusions,” said a DGCA official requesting anonymity.

The DGCA will also probe the role of a trainee pilot who was part of the cockpit crew operating the flight. “We have leads about a trainee pilot and a check pilot on board,” said another DGCA official. This follows a previous safety lapse involving another trainee pilot, last year, which came to light last week. Reports suggest that a commander allowed a trainee pilot to occupy the co-pilot’s seat before landing a Jet flight in Mumbai last year.