17 January,2011 07:16 AM IST | | Prachi Sibal
After being airborne for 10 minutes, a Hyderabad-bound flight with 27 passengers and five crewmembers had to make an emergency landing yesterday
A freak accident caught the city in the wee hours yesterday as the Kingfisher Airlines Bangalore-Hyderabad flight IT 4817 had to land back shortly after its take off. The 27 passengers and five crewmembers on board were reported safe and deplaned from the craft immediately. The flight that was scheduled to depart at 7.25 am was delayed due to a technical snag and took off at 7.40 am.
Saare Zameen par: The aircraft, an ATR 72-500, landed safely in
Bangalore at 8.40 am and all the passengers and crewmembers were
immediately deplaned. Representation pic
"An early boarding was announced and we had boarded the craft at about 7.05 am after which a technical snag was declared and we were disembarked. Once in the bus we were told the problem was resolved and boarded the craft again. Five minutes after take off the right engine began sputtering," said a passenger.
"The passenger seated ahead of me called the airhostess for attention who in turn called the pilot. The right engine was turned off and the flight had to make a landing back in Bangalore. No information regarding the technical problem or the turbulence that followed was announced," he added.
In an official statement from Mumbai, Prakash Mirpuri, VP, Corporate Communications, Kingfisher Airlines Limited, declared, "Shortly after the flight took off from Bangalore to Hyderabad, the commander received a warning alert. The cockpit crew took necessary action as per established procedures and as a matter of abundant precaution decided to return to Bangalore immediately.
The aircraft, an ATR 72-500, landed safely in Bangalore at 8.40 am where the 27 guests and five crewmembers were immediately deplaned. The aircraft is being inspected thoroughly and a flight safety team will carry out a detailed investigation into this." A frequent flier with the airlines said, "I fly at least once or twice a month. I would even avoid Kingfisher flights if possible."
