DGCA begins probe in Jet Airways' Boeing 737 landing gear collapse at Mumbai

Regulator suspects mechanical failure to be the reason for collapse; issue likely to be taken up with manufacturers

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the incident of landing gear collapse of a Jet Airways’ Boeing 737 aircraft upon touch down at Mumbai airport on Thursday night. The aircraft, with 127 passengers onboard, came from New Delhi. No one was hurt in the incident. 

Mumbai airport's main runway remains shut following the incident, but operations are normal as secondary runway is being used.

According to sources, a landing gear damage and collapse can take place due to presence of foreign object on runway, mechanical failure or a faulty landing by pilots.

DGCA suspects that this incident could be result of mechanical failure. "We will take up the issue with aircraft manufacturer," an official said.

 

This is second instance of landing gear collapse of Jet Airways Boeing 737 in eleven months. Last April landing gear of its aircraft had collapsed at Khajuraho airport.

Jet Airways said that its engineering teams are working to remove the aircraft from taxiway.

In an earlier statement, the airline had said, “Jet Airways flight 9W 354 on landing in Mumbai reported a technical fault with the main landing gear. All 127 passengers have been safely disembarked. Jet Airways’ engineering teams are inspecting the aircraft to assess the next course of action for shifting the aircraft from its current location on taxiway N9.”