A technician, known as Ravi Subramanian of Air India was killed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport of Mumbai after being pulled by the engine of an aeroplane which was being pushed back. Ravi Subramanian was supervising the process of pushing back of the aircraft when this shocking incident took place. On Wednesday, Ravi was standing in close proximity to the engine of Air India flight 619 which flies from Mumbai to Hyderabad, during the process of pushing back of plane from the parking area around 8:30 pm.
As a plane can move forward only, for pushing it back an outer force is given by a tow van and during the process, an engineer is present in the front of plane’s nose.
As per the report of Times of India, the flight was operated by a senior commander A G Sharma but the co-pilot was an inexperienced one. Sources of Air India told PTI, “During the pusback, the co-pilot mistook a signal for engine start. As he switched on the engine, it sucked in the technician standing nearby”.
TOI also said that in this specific aeroplane, a unit is used to keep the air-conditioned and for starting the engines when it is on the ground was not working. This unit is known as auxiliary power unit.
A pilot of the airlines told the TOI that while pushing the plane back, one engine may need to be started and it seems as if the incident took place when the other engine was being started.
Subramanian’s body was found in a disfigured state and this incident also made the passengers unhappy and upset.
Ashwani Lohani, Chairman and MD of Air India said to PTI, “We are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport this evening when an Air India technician died in a mishap during push back of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.”
