The Civil Aviation watchdog DGCA's (Director General of Civil Aviation) preliminary inquiry seems to have found that the Jet flight mishap may have happened because the pilot and crew over-reacted.
NDTV has learnt that the initial probe has found that the fire alarm in the cockpit never went off. The preliminary inquiry has also apparently found that the engine showed no signs of fire.
The DGCA is therefore looking into whether a full emergency needed to be declared. The initial probe has also found the crew did not carry out a proper evacuation drill.
Sources say the DGCA is probing whether the crew's response to the fire alarm was responsible for causing panic among passengers.
It is also learnt that DGCA is looking into why the pilot opened only three of the four slides. The Pilot and crew have now been de-rostered as part of standard procedure.
DGCA has already ordered a probe into the last night's incident.
Twenty six passengers of a Jet flight were injured at Mumbai airport during an emergency evacuation after a fire alarm went off in the cockpit on Friday night. Some were hurt because they tried to jump from the plane while others sustained injuries in the chaos when passengers rushed to slide down the chutes.
Eleven passengers were admitted in Nanavati Hospital, six were diagnosed with fracture. Now, only two patients are in the hospital, rest have been discharged.
According to reports, 153 passengers were on board the flight.
"Jet Airways pilot of flight 9W 2302 (Mumbai-Chennai) reported fire in one of the engine while its was on the taxiway. MIAL emergency services responded to the call. However, there was no visible fire," the spokesperson said.
The pilot alerted the ATC and a full emergency was declared. Taking no chances, the commander of the flight decided to evacuate all passengers.
Emergency slides were deployed and 153 panic stricken passengers were deplaned using the chutes.
Fire engines were rushed to the spot, but reported no visible fire.
While sliding out, some passengers were injured and sustained fractures. Most of them were given first aid.
"Well just like any emergency situation, the thing was to escape somehow and I too had the same feeling," said a passenger.
While another passenger said, "The crew handled the emergency very well. All were young people, just around 25 years old, but they were so well prepared and handled it very well."
After several hours, the passengers were put on the same flight to Chennai where the flight arrived a little after 2 am.
Jet Airways in a statement said the commander of the flight proceeded to declare a precautionary emergency although there were no visible traces of fire.
"The commander on board Jet Airways flight 9W 2302 Mumbai-Chennai was informed of an indication of a fire in left engine. Although there was no visible trace of a fire, the commander proceeded to declare a precautionary emergency," the statement said.
All passengers were deplaned safely and a thorough inspection of the engine was carried out, it added. (With PTI Inputs)
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