The crew on flight 9W 697 reportedly forgot to select a switch that helps maintain cabin air pressure during take-off
New Delhi: In a case of gross negligence, a Jet Airways flight with 166 passengers from Mumbai to Jaipur had to turn back shortly after take-off on Thursday morning.
Several passengers suffered nasal and ear bleeding due to cabin pressure problem, a senior official said.
The crew on flight 9W 697 reportedly forgot to select a switch that helps maintain cabin air pressure during take-off; as a result, over 30 passengers suffered from ear and nose bleeding.
Darshak Hathi, the international director of Art of Living Foundation, was one of the passengers on that flight. He caught the moment of panic and absolute confusion prevailing inside the flight.
The Boeing 737 aircraft returned to Mumbai due to "loss of cabin pressure" and the pilots have been taken off duty pending investigation, a Jet Airways spokesperson said.
A Jet Airways Mumbai-Jaipur flight was turned back to Mumbai mid-air today as, during the climb, crew forgot to select switch to maintain cabin pressure. 30 out of 166 pax experienced nose&ear bleeding, some also complained of headache. They're are being treated at Mumbai airport
— ANI (@ANI)"During the climb, the crew forgot to select bleed switch due to which cabin pressurisation could not be maintained. As a result, oxygen masks got deployed," the official at aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said,
Citing initial information, the official said a few passengers have nose bleeding.
"Out of 166 passengers on board, 30 passengers are affected... some have nose bleeding, few have ear bleeding and some are complaining of a headache," he added.
Just had an emergency landing I the crew acts unprofessional the ground staff clueless n no sr rep at site to guide.pic.twitter.com/m7prsmIGIj
— Amit relan (@RelanAmit)revised now on d runway since 20 mins without any ventilation n total suffocation. Don’t knw if we will make it staff 👎🏻
— Amit relan (@RelanAmit)emergency landing at Mumbai. Stranded with no information. pic.twitter.com/iTVUAVQJbTpic.twitter.com/L8tGyQF4iw
— Gravina pereira (@PereiraGravina)According to the airline, the aircraft landed normally in Mumbai. "All guests were deplaned safely and taken to the terminal. First aid was administered to a few guests who complained of ear pain, bleeding nose etc," it said.
An official at Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said that going by the preliminary information, it could be a case of negligence on the part of the pilots since controlling cabin pressure control is part of a check before operating a flight.
The official said the DGCA would look into the incident first and then a decision would be taken on whether the matter should be referred to the AAIB.
One of the Jet Airways flyers has been admitted to a hospital here for a check-up, an official said.
A middle-aged man was brought to Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital in suburban Vile Parle by Jet Airways officials.
"He has been admitted for audiometry test and the hospital will issue a health statement after some time," a spokesperson of the hospital said.
In an ominous turn of events, Dr Rajendra Patenkar, the COO of Nanavati Hospital said that passengers who suffered nose and ear bleeding will have "mild conductive deafness for some period of time". He added that the passengers have been advised not to fly again for some time.
Most of them will have mild conductive deafness for some period of time. Till then they've been advised not to fly again: Dr Rajendra Patenkar,Chief Operating Officer, Nanavati Hospital on passengers of the Jet Airways Mumbai-Jaipur flight which suffered cabin pressure loss today pic.twitter.com/lrJtBmmVUR
— ANI (@ANI)Bewildered by the turn of events, Jet Airways has issued a statement. "Following the air-turn back of Jet Airways’ flight 9W 697 of September 20, 144 of the 166 guests of the original flight travelled to Jaipur via an alternative flight of the airline, while 17 of them wished to travel at another point in time. Five guests who were referred to a hospital for additional medical check-up accompanied by the Jet Airways’ Care team have since been released, post medical examination. The airline will continue to offer necessary medical care and attention to the concerned guests as required. Jet Airways is also extending full cooperation to the DGCA for the ongoing investigation of the event. Jet Airways regrets the inconvenience caused to its guests," the airlines' wrote in a statement addressed to the media.
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