Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: About 112 passengers and crew aboard a Jammu-bound GoAir A320 Neo plane had a narrow escape as the aircraft developed some technical glitch soon after the takeoff from mountain-locked airport here but the pilot managed to return it safely to the airport.
Powered by Pratt and Whitney engines, A320 Neo planes, which are being operated in the country by GoAir and IndiGo, have been facing engine problems.
The Delhi-Leh-Jammu flight took off from Leh at 9.20 am but had to return shortly due to a technical snag, Airline officials said.
On the glitch, a GoAir official said there was an “indication” in the oil chip detection system and spare parts would be flown in.
In a statement, GoAir said, “G8 205 (Leh-Jammu) with 112 passengers had a technical glitch right after becoming airborne. The flight crew chose to return to Leh. The aircraft is on ground and being inspected.”
It did not specify the nature of the technical issue the plane suffered.
The Airline said the passengers were being looked after.
“We are ensuring the next available flight options as well as hotel accommodation for passengers,” it said.
A GoAir aircraft had earlier this month repeated glitches in oil chip detection system — as many as three in a span of two days.
There are a total 45 A320 Neos in the country. Out of them, 32 are with IndiGo and 13 are with GoAir.
Pratt and Whitney-powered Airbus A320 Neos have been facing engine problems for the past more than two years.
Following a slew of engine issues, the civil aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation had last year ordered more frequent boroscopic inspections as well as grounding of aircraft on illumination of “oil chip lights”.
Earlier this month, European aviation safety regulator EASA had issued an emergency airworthiness directive for A320 Neo planes fitted with PW1100 engines having a particular serial number.
The European aviation watchdog’s directive came in the wake of instances of engine in-flight shut-downs and rejected take-offs involving A320 Neo family planes.
Following that directive, IndiGo had grounded three A320 Neo planes while GoAir had said that none of its planes has “two of these engines on the same aircraft”.
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