New Delhi: An Air India Boeing 747 jumbo jet that had taken off from the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah for Hyderabad had to return to Jeddah after a mid-air scare when an alarm on board the aircraft went off, signalling that an aircraft door was loose and therefore not properly locked.
Despite visual footage aired by a TV channel that suggested that the particular door may not have been properly locked, an Air India official claimed the plane’s door was later checked by engineers at Jeddah and found to be okay, adding that it appeared to be a “false alarm”.
After a delay of about three hours, the aircraft again took off from Jeddah, but for Mumbai this time, on account of the flight duty time limitations of the flight crew. The aircraft had 383 passengers on board. Air India is likely to order a probe that will ascertain why the alarm for “door loose” went off on board.
Air India may also probe whether there was any negligence on the part of the cabin crew in properly locking the door.
Aviation regulator DGCA may also order a probe.
