A Jet Airways aircraft flying on its way from Mumbai to Brussels last Friday suddenly dropped 5,000 feet in the Ankara airspace over Turkey. The commander of the Boeing 777 aircraft was taking 'controlled rest', which means a nap as per rules.
The co-pilot told DGCA that she was working on her iPad or the electronic flight bag which has all aircraft documents loaded on to it. Immediately after the Ankara ATC message, the co-pilot woke up the commander who restored the height of the plane.
The regulator is now probing how the aircraft dropped 5,000 feet without the co-pilot realizing it. "Was some button pressed wrongly and what was the co-pilot doing — whether she was watching something on the tablet or she too had dozed off — needs to be probed," said a senior DGCA official. Following this case, DGCA has decided to audit the airline's training procedure for pilots.
Statement made by Jet Airways to Media on this:-
Jet Airways has initiated an internal inquiry into the matter. The airline is also extending all co-operation in the matter to the DGCA by providing all necessary assistance for the inquiry.
Safety is of paramount importance to Jet Airways, as is also the welfare of our guests and crew and the airline will always take appropriate steps to ensure the same.
The co-pilot told DGCA that she was working on her iPad or the electronic flight bag which has all aircraft documents loaded on to it. Immediately after the Ankara ATC message, the co-pilot woke up the commander who restored the height of the plane.
The regulator is now probing how the aircraft dropped 5,000 feet without the co-pilot realizing it. "Was some button pressed wrongly and what was the co-pilot doing — whether she was watching something on the tablet or she too had dozed off — needs to be probed," said a senior DGCA official. Following this case, DGCA has decided to audit the airline's training procedure for pilots.
Media Statements on the Mumbai-Brussels & Delhi-Bhopal flights: http://t.co/Tq20nsuYwf
— Jet Airways (@jetairways) August 14, 2014
Statement made by Jet Airways to Media on this:-
Jet Airways has initiated an internal inquiry into the matter. The airline is also extending all co-operation in the matter to the DGCA by providing all necessary assistance for the inquiry.
Safety is of paramount importance to Jet Airways, as is also the welfare of our guests and crew and the airline will always take appropriate steps to ensure the same.
