Jet bus crashes into Air India plane

A Jet Airways bus carrying cabin crew crashed into an Air India (AI) plane which was parked at the Kolkata Airport early hours of Tuesday. The aircraft was scheduled to take-off for Silchar at 7.30 am. The aircraft suffered extensive damages and has been grounded. There were no passenger in the aircraft during the mishap.

The accused bus driver was arrested by the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport police. An AI spokesperson said, “Today at 5.25 am, a clear fogless morning, a Jet Airways tarmac bus intruded into the slot marked at bay 32 for AI aircraft and hit the aircraft VT-ABO (ATR 42). The aircraft sustained extensive damage on the right engine, right landing gear and also some other parts because of which the flight operations to Silchar and Shillong had to be cancelled.”

A Jet Airways spokesperson said, “A coach transporting Jet Airways cabin crew at the Kolkata Airport accidentally collided with a stationary aircraft of another airline. No one was injured in the collision. Jet Airways has started investigations into the incident.” Bus driver Momin Ali apparently lost control after he dozed off and rammed into the stationary aircraft’s right wing and its propeller from behind.

“The driver underwent medical test and breath analysis which revealed he was not drunk. But he admitted that he fell asleep while driving the bus,” Kolkata Airport director Anil Kumar Sharma said.

The Air India authorities accommodated the aircraft’s passengers in other flights and lodged complaints with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), NSCBI airport police station, Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

“The AAI, police, CISF and other authorities have taken serious note of this gross act of negligence and are investigating the incident. We regret the inconvenience caused to any passengers scheduled to take the flights,” the AI spokesperson added. The DGCA launched a high-level probe.

Momin was detained for questioning and was arrested under Sections 279 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code which are bailable offences, said Bidhannagar police commissionerate’s additional deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Shivani Tiwari. An AI technical team from New Delhi will assess the extent of the aircraft’s damage and carry out repair work.