VASCO: About 15 passengers, including a pregnant woman, sustained minor injuries after a Jet Airways Boeing aircraft readying for takeoff to Mumbai with 154 passengers and seven crew members on board veered off the runway early Tuesday morning.
According to information, the incident occurred at about 5 am when the aircraft, which had arrived from Dubai and was about to take off for Mumbai, developed a technical fault due to which the front wheel cracked and the aircraft which was in full speed went off the runway. There was a minor fire near the aircraft engine, however, it was doused.
“Right before the flight could take off, the aircraft stated bumping and turned towards the north of the runway and stopped 200 meters from the runway. Everyone inside the aircraft got scared and started screaming. Suddenly we saw some fire near the engine. Crew members opened the emergency door so as to evacuate the passengers, but a few passengers, including me, started jumping out from the aircraft, we sustained injuries,” a passenger onboard the aircraft told reporters at Chicalim Cottage hospital, Vasco after receiving medical aid.
Another passenger said, “When the flight was about to take off, it suddenly started bouncing and then went off the runway and hit some rock. When passengers were getting down suddenly the plane bent forward on its nose due to which passengers panicked and there was chaos. Also some passengers sustained injuries when they jumped from the emergency door,” said B K Singh, another injured passenger who was being treated at Chicalim cottage hospital.
Addressing the media in the afternoon, Airport Director BCH Negi said an inquiry into the incident is being conducted by experts and investigations will reveal the exact cause of the incident. “So far the inquiry is being conducted on the details on why and how the incident occurred,” he said.
Congratulating the Navy for swift action, he said, “The incident was reported at 5 am and the runway was made available at 9 am by Navy. They have done a commendable job by clearing the runway within such a short span of time,” he said.
Asked as to whether any pregnant woman was injured, Negi said, “I don’t know the exact number of injured persons, however, we had sent our ambulance to the site. Similarly Navy sent its doctors and rescue team at the site immediately and those who had sustained injuries were provided first aid. Some injured were taken to hospital. With regards to the pregnant woman, she had not suffered any injuries however she was taken to hospital for a check up.”
Meanwhile in a statement Jet Airways confirmed that a few passengers sustained injuries during evacuation process.
Navy official from INS Hansa said the incident was reported at 5.04 am. Some passengers sustained injuries, not more than fractures, but all were evacuated through the passenger terminal.
In a statement the Navy said, “Investigation has commenced by Jet technical team and Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) members. All assistance has been provided by the Navy. Shifting of aircraft will commence post clearance by AAIB. In addition, some salvage material has arrived in Goa and rest will be arriving by road.”
About nine passengers were taken to Chicalim hospital, some passengers were taken to a private hospital at Chicalim and some were shifted to GMC. Mapusa-based, Veleri Fernandes underwent a orthopedic surgery at the GMC, while Assam native Rashmi Thakur was discharged after medical advice.
According to GMC Medical Superintendent Dr Savio Rodrigues, around seven passengers were shifted to the hospital with minor problems such as chest injury and ankle pain. “They were treated at the casualty and some of them shifted to different wards,” he said. Sources said those who did not require monitoring were discharged soon after medical aid while the remaining were kept under observation.
