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DG of Civil Aviation suspends 10 crew members after near stampede on Jet Airways Mumbai-Chennai flight

Passenger Ravi Chandra was admitted to Sujay Hospital at Vile Parle

The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday took strict action against Jet Airways for "serious procedural lapses" on flight 9W-2302, on which 25 passengers were injured at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. It has also ordered the suspension of 10 Jet Airways crew members, including the flight commander, a co-pilot, four crew members and four additional crew members after holding them responsible for the near-stampede that occurred inside the aircraft on Friday night.

"Preliminary fact finding has revealed lapses in emergency evacuation as per procedures laid down in aircraft rules and regulations," the civil aviation ministry said on behalf of the DGCA in a statement issued on Saturday morning.

"I am happy that the DGCA realised the crew's mistake and suspended them, but the pilots shouldn't be de-rostered. It was the pilots who raised the fire alarm and informed the department concerned to launch the evacuation procedure," said Ravi Chandran, 45, who broke his right ankle while trying to escape.
R Kannan, 42, also expressed his satisfaction at the DGCA's decision.

A spokesperson for the airline clarified, "The pilots have not been suspended. They have been temporarily de-rostered to co-operate with the fact-finding inquiry ordered by the DGCA. The precautionary evacuation was carried out in the interest of the safety of the guests and crew, in accordance with Standard Operating Procedure. Subsequent inspection of the engine has indicated that there was no fire."