Highlight
- An engineer inspected the aircraft and found that the wheel strut was compressed
- So the engineer decided to land the plane
- The airline sent another plane from Mumbai to Dubai to operate the flight
SpiceJet’s Dubai-Madurai flight was delayed on Monday following a defect in the nose wheel of a Boeing B737 MAX aircraft, officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.
Monday’s incident is at least the ninth incident of a technical snag in a SpiceJet aircraft in 24 days.
The DGCA on July 6 issued a show-cause notice to SpiceJet after eight incidents of technical snag in its aircraft since June 19. The aviation regulator said the budget carrier has “failed” to establish safe, efficient and reliable air services.
DGCA officials said a Boeing B737 MAX aircraft with registration number VT-SZK operated the Mangaluru-Dubai flight on Monday. After the plane landed, an engineer conducted a walk-around inspection and found that the nose wheel strut was compressed more than usual, he said.
Hence, the engineer decided to land the plane, the officials said.
He said the airline sent another flight from Mumbai to Dubai to operate the return Dubai-Madurai flight.
When asked about the matter, a SpiceJet spokesperson said, “SpiceJet flight SG23 from Dubai to Madurai on July 11, 2022 was delayed due to last minute technical issue. The alternate flight was immediately delayed. Arrangements were made which brought the passengers back to India.”
“Flight delays can happen with any airline. There are no incidents or safety concerns on this flight,” the spokesperson said.
Read also | SpiceJet director booked for duping businessman of lakhs, airline calls case ‘fake’