Chennai: A GoAir flight, which had just arrived from Mumbai, suffered damage after being hit by an aerobridge even as it was waiting to be connected to the domestic terminal at Chennai Airport on Friday morning.
G8-305, carrying 168 passengers on board, landed at around 6.22 am and the passengers were waiting to disembark when it took a blow at 6.35 am. In a press release, circulated in the evening, the airline noted, “The AAI operator was unable to safely align the aerobridge to the aircraft as he was moving it too fast and thus unable to control its movement causing this unfortunate incident. “Assessment of the damage is being done, following which further course of action shall be initiated,” the airline added.
As a result of the incident, the onward flight to Port Blair, on which 124 passengers had been booked and scheduled to depart at around 8.30 am was cancelled as the aircraft was deemed not to be air fit for travel. The airline informed the passengers that they will be re-accommodated on their flights tomorrow or on other airlines.
The freak accident has led to several passengers ruining their cancelled flight. R. Babu, of Arakonam, had been booked on the Port Blair flight to attend a family wedding along with his family. “I had booked months earlier and was looking forward to the function, but due to this unfortunate incident, I shall be missing it,” Babu rued.
