The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) yesterday suspended the maintenance engineer who had cleared the faulty GoAir aircraft, which lost its nose wheel during a flight to Delhi on Thursday. 

Sources in DGCA informed that the engineer, Rupali Parashar, had actually inspected the aircraft and tightened the wheel nuts and bolts (before take-off), as the pilot of the previous flight had complained of vibration in the nose wheel area.

"She has been placed under suspension and the DGCA is enquiring further," said Kanu Gohain, director general, DGCA. DGCA sources said that the bearing in the nose wheel assembly (front wheel joint) had been severely damaged. "Poor greasing and maintenance is suspected to be the reason for incident," said a DGCA official.