Low cost carrier SpiceJet’s Delhi-Dubai flight was diverted to Karachi on Tuesday as the fuel indicator started malfunctioning. Hours after, SpiceJet reported a glitch in its Kandla-Mumbai flight as the windshield outer pane of got cracked during the cruise.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered a probe into the incident relating to Delhi-Dubai flight. More than 150 passengers are onboard. “On July 5, 2022, M/s SpiceJet B737-8 Max aircraft VT-MXG while operating flight SG-011, Delhi – Dubai, the crew observed unusual fuel quantity reduction from the left tank. They carried out a relevant non-normal checklist, however fuel quantity kept on decreasing. PIC decided to divert the aircraft to Karachi (KHI). Aircraft diverted in coordination with ATC and landed safely at KHI,” said DGCA statement.
India’s low-cost carrier SpiceJet said the flight was diverted when it was on the way to Dubai and flying on 5000 ft.
The conversation between the SpiceJet pilot and ATC Karachi which has been accessed by ANI, shows that the pilot has asked for a precautionary landing after suspected fuel leakage in the aircraft.
“The SpiceJet pilot is heard telling ATC Karachi that the fuel leakage in the aircraft, requesting it for precautionary landing,” ATC conversation read.
“Karachi ATC confirming him whether any dangerous good on board. The pilots responded negatively. Later Karachi ATC confirms SpiceJet for landing after two
minutes,” the conversation further read.
The plane landed safely at Karachi airport at around 8 am (local time), 53 minutes after being airborne.
“SpiceJet has been on-ground for the past four hours. Passengers are being looked after. The plane has been parked in the designated area where engineers are assessing the problem,” Pakistan’s civil aviation authority (CAA) official said.
According to SpiceJet, no emergency was declared and the aircraft made a normal landing at Karachi airport. “No emergency was declared and the aircraft made a normal landing. There was no earlier report of any malfunction with the aircraft. Passengers have been served refreshments. A replacement aircraft is being sent to Karachi that will take the passengers to Dubai,” SpiceJet spokesperson said.
In the second incident related to Kandla – Mumbai flight, SpiceJet said P2 side windshield outer pane of SpiceJet Q400 aircraft operating as SG 3324 Kandla – Mumbai flight got cracked during the cruise on Tuesday. Thankfully, the aircraft landed safely in Mumbai.
“On July 5, 2022, SpiceJet Q400 aircraft was operating SG 3324 (Kandla – Mumbai). During cruise at FL230, P2 side windshield outer pane cracked. Pressurization was observed to be normal. The aircraft landed safely in Mumbai,” SpiceJet spokesperson said.
Earlier on Saturday, a domestic flight made an emergency landing after its cabin filled with smoke soon after take-off for the central city of Jabalpur, the airline said.
A senior DGCA official said that they are investigating all six incidents on SpiceJet aircraft reported in the last 17 days.
“We are concerned over passengers’ safety and a team has been formed to investigate all the incidents thoroughly and submit the report at the earliest,” he said.