Mumbai: Air India technician sucked into aircraft engine, dies

Mumbai: A technician with national carrier Air India died after being sucked into the engine of an aircraft at Mumbai airport at about 8.45 pm on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Ravi Subramaniam, a technician posted as service engineer with Air India.

Sources from Mumbai Airport Authority said that the incident occurred when a Hyderabad-bound flight AI 619 was moving out of bay 28 for its take-off scheduled at 8.40 pm. AI619 was readying for take-off towards the runway but at about 8.45 pm, on bay 28, Subramaniam was sucked into the aircraft engine. Death was instant and airport doctors rushed to the site upon being informed.

After the incident, the airline grounded the aircraft and after an hour, passengers of the flight took off in another aircraft. A source requesting anonymity informed this newspaper, “The co-pilot thought Mr Subramaniam was signalling to throttle on and in the process, he got sucked by the engine.”

A top Air India official said, “At the moment, we are absolutely clueless on how this person was near the aircraft. Only an inquiry can establish whose negligence it was and whether the engine should have been switched on at that time.”

According to security establishments, as of now, suicide and murder cannot be ruled out. A top Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official, who did not wish to be named, said, “The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has been informed for further action.”

Local DCP Virendra Mishra told The Asian Age that Subramaniam’s punchnama is being conducted by the police and further inquiry has been ordered.

A source from the airport security department told this newspaper, “The body is badly mutilated and no post-mortem is possible as it is almost in liquid form.” The police said the stomach part of the deceased has been recovered as also other parts. Meanwhile, Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani issued a statement which reads, “We are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport this evening when an Air India technician died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated. Our heartfelt condolences.”