Riyadh fiasco: Licences of 2 Jet pilots suspended
The aircraft was to take-off from the Saudi capital Riyadh for Mumbai.
New Delhi: Indian aviation regulator DGCA on Monday suspended the licence of two Jet Airways pilots after the aircraft they were piloting reportedly attempted take-off at Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia last Friday from a taxiway parallel to the runway from which it was actually supposed to take-off. In what seems to be a case of pilot error, the aircraft apparently accelerated “with full take-off power” and overshot the taxiway, ending up close to the exit of another taxiway, Saudi Arabia’s Aviation Investigation Bureau (AIB) reportedly stated.
The aircraft was to take-off from the Saudi capital Riyadh for Mumbai. The incident is being probed jointly by the Saudi AIB and the India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
“The DGCA has suspended the licence of both the pilots involved in the runway excursion incident at Riyadh pending investigation,” senior DGCA sources said on Monday.
The Saudi Aviation Investigation Bureau (AIB) reportedly stated, “Jet Airways B=737 (aircraft) VT-JFS flight JAI523 heading to Mumbai with 141 passengers and seven crew members overshot taxiway at the King Khaled International Airport (KKIA). Initial factual information confirms that the aircraft attempted take-off from taxiway-K parallel to take-off designated runway (R33) while visibility was high and no obstacles ... on the taxiway. The aircraft accelerated with full take-off power and exceeded the taxiway onto unpaved area ending up close to the exit of taxiway (G4).”
The Saudi AIB added, “The Fire and Rescue teams were at the site immediately, all passengers and crew were evacuated through the aircraft emergency slides with no injuries.”