Two inquiries ordered into Surat Spicejet Plane mishap

Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati has directed that an inquiry should be conducted by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure that incidents like the one at Surat airport should not recur at any other airport.

Earlier, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered an inquiry into the incident and a team from DGCA Regional Headquarters, Mumbai is to visit Surat airport on Friday.

"On November 6, at 19.06 hours the SpiceJet Flight SG-622 (Boeing 737-800 aircraft) hit an animal during the take-off run. Timely action by the pilot of the aircraft averted a mishap and the aircraft was brought back to the apron for checks. Another aircraft was called from Mumbai and passengers were sent to Delhi around 2300 hrs," read a statement issued by the government on Friday.

The Minister called a meeting on Friday in which Secretary, Civil Aviation, DGCA, Chairman, AAI, Member/ANS, AAI and Member (Operations) were present.

It was desired that immediate action should be taken to ensure that no airport boundary is breached resulting in this type of safety hazards in future.

The Minister has directed the Airports Authority of India to send teams to visit all such airports where there are similar safety concerns, within the next one month and to take remedial measures within three months.

"The Member (Operations) along with Regional Executive Director/ Western Region, AAI are also to visit Surat airport for inspection and discussion with District Collector for suggesting preventive measures to be taken in future to ensure environment management around the airport," read the statement.

An FIR has been lodged in the present incident.

"It has been intimated that this type of breach by animals from surrounding villages have been reported earlier also. There are fish ponds just adjacent to the boundary wall at Surat Airport which attract birds around the airport, causing safety hazards. These concerns have been raised by APD with State Government authorities and local administration. The Secretary, Civil Aviation has also spoken to Chief Secretary, Gujarat on this issue," read the statement.

"The matter has also been taken up with district administration and in the Airport Environmental Committee meetings also which is headed by District Collector. The Minister of Civil Aviation has also desired that AAI should frame short term, medium term and long term plans for vulnerable airports where these types of airport boundary breaches have been reported," it said.