A major air disaster was averted when a Delhi-bound Kingfisher Airlines flight with 90 passengers on board returned to Hyderabad after the crew detected smoke coming out of the cargo hold. Though the alertness of the crew saved the day, the presence of inflammable powder in the cargo hold raised alarming questions about security checks at the new international airport in Shamshabad.
The Kingfisher flight IT-80, which took off at 6.35 am, was forced to land at Shamshabad airport at 9 am as the Delhi Air Traffic Control denied it permission to land. The flight was airborne for nearly three hours with the smoke emitting from the cargo compartment before it made a safe touchdown. However, the passengers were told about the incident and their miraculous escape only after they stepped out of the aircraft. They later flew to New Delhi in another plane.
Sources said the New Delhi ATC refused landing permission since the airport was crowded. The ATC directed the pilot to return to Shamshabad since it was equidistant. The pilot did not opt for Mumbai as it too was crowded and instead chose to return. “There could have been dangerous consequences if the flight had landed in Mumbai or New Delhi,” said an official. “Since Shamshabad has the longest runway and ample taxi space, the pilot was directed to return.”
On investigation, unidentified inflammable powder was detected in one of the cargo consignments. Kingfisher airlines alleged that the consignment was cleared by the security screening staff of GMR Hyderabad International Airport while the latter tried to play it down. “Normally, Kingfisher airlines screens all its cargo consignments but at Shamshabad it is done by GMR,” said Mr Prakash Mirpuri, senior general manager of the airline.
The crew handed over the powder to civil aviation authority and the airline ordered an internal probe into the matter. GHIAL deftly dodged the issue of security screening and said the plane landed normally. “During the precautionary unloading of the cargo, an unidentified substance was located and this is being investigated,” it said in a press note.
A GHIAL spokesperson, however, told this newspaper that no suspicious substance was detected in the security screening conducted by GMR and Menzies together. “It was done by a certified security screener,” he said. “Investigations are on.” Meanwhile, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered a high-level enquiry into the incident. Senior officials from Chennai are expected to visit Hyderabad for further investigation. When contacted, the DGCA, Mr Kanu Gohain said that he had no detailed information on the flight.
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