Chennai, Jul 10: An aerobridge operator, reportedly talking on his mobile, hit a GoAir Airbus A-320 with the aerobridge while aligning the same with the aircraft at Chennai airport on Friday morning. The fuselage of the Airbus A-320 near the front door got punctured and the aircraft has been grounded.
Picture of the part of GoAir Airbus A-320 aircraft's fuselage that got punctured after being hit by an aerobridge at Chennai airport on Friday morning. Source: DGCA
There were 168 passengers on the G 8 305 flight. A statement from the Chennai airport said all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
"Passengers were not hurt as the plane was stationary at that time. They later alighted the aircraft from the rear door using a stepladder," said a senior officer of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Initial probe by DGCA Chennai office has shown that the aerobridge operator was talking on his mobile when he was trying to align that with the aircraft. "According to GoAir ground staff, the airline staff warned the aerobridge operator that he was moving it too fast and may hit the plane. However, whether the aerobridge operator was at fault or was the plane not aligned properly in its parking spot is something that an inquiry will reveal," said the officer.
The flight had touched down in Chennai at 6.22 am and reached its parking bay (number 28) at 6.32 am. Two minutes later the aerobridge alignment started happening and the plane was hit at 6.35 am, according to DGCA.
The GoAir aircraft was supposed to fly to Port Blair from Chennai but was grounded after this incident. "Passengers bound for Port Blair were sent by other airlines. GoAir now has has 18 aircraft operational in its fleet as the one hit in Chennai has been grounded. Its schedule is going to be affected," said the DGCA official.
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