The Economic Times

Title : DGCA to Probe Jet Airways' Mid-air Plunge

Author : MIHIR MISHRA
Location :
NEW DELHI
Article Date : 08/14/2014

Passengers onboard a Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Brussels had a major scare on August 8 when
the aircraft abruptly plunged more than 5,000 feet over Turkish airspace.
The Jet Airways Boeing 777-300 ER (Extended Range) operating as flight 9W 228 was flying at an
altitude of 34,000 feet when it suddenly dropped, according to the digital flight data recorder.
This is a matter of serious concern and the pilots involved in the incident have been grounded. We will
form a team to inquire into the matter and also the training facilities of the airline, said a senior official
of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The initial inquiry was conducted by the DGCA
on Wednesday after joint director general Lalit Gupta received an anonymous complaint about the
incident. It found that the commander of the flight was taking rest, which is allowed under the rules. The
co-pilot who was in charge of the aircraft while the commander rested told the DGCA that she did not
know why the incident occurred. In the initial inquiry, the co-pilot said that she was not aware of the
reasons for descent and she was reading the flight manuals. This requires thorough investigation and
only then will we be able to ascertain the reasons, said the DGCA official.
The Ankara air traffic control observed the rapid descent of the aircraft and asked the crew to take the
plane back to designated altitude.
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