Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP P Wilson on Monday raised concerns over aviation safety after an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Shillong was cancelled following an engine failure while taxiing, alleging that the aircraft was “unsafe” and questioning how it was granted an airworthiness certificate.
In a post on X, Wilson said he was travelling on IndiGo flight 6E 7423 from Kolkata to Shillong along with three other MPs and 67 passengers to attend a Joint Parliamentary Committee public hearing when the aircraft suddenly stopped while taxiing towards the runway. “Today, when I, along with three other MPs and 67 passengers, boarded IndiGo flight 6E 7423 @IndiGo6E from Kolkata Airport to Shillong to attend a Joint Parliamentary Committee public hearing, the flight suddenly stopped while taxiing from the parking bay towards the runway. Afterwards, the pilot announced a technical glitch and cancelled the flight,” he said.
Seeking the intervention of Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Wilson urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct an impartial review of airworthiness certificates of all aircraft operating across the country and undertake surprise inspections to ensure passenger safety. Before take-off, an engine failed and was shut down. Passengers were stranded on board for about two hours. He urged the Civil Aviation Minister to direct the DGCA to review all airworthiness certificates and establish whether aircraft operating across the country were genuinely fit to fly. He also called for surprise inspections by vigilance units wherever required. “The innocent public trusts that flights are safe and undertakes journeys.
“The truth is that the flight was unsafe, and it is unclear how the DGCA (@DGCAIndia) granted this aircraft an airworthiness certificate–a serious violation,” he said. “If they are not, the DGCA should cancel their certificates, ground the aircraft and prohibit them from flying,” Wilson said. Highlighting the risks faced by passengers, Wilson questioned the consequences of technical failures occurring during a flight and said people travel by air trusting that the aircraft are safe. What happens if a flight develops technical snags in mid-air?” he said.
