GoAir Delhi flight returns to Mumbai due to engine vibrations

A Pratt & Whitney-engine powered A320neo plane of GoAir returned to the city due to "high engine vibrations" after an hour of its take-off for Delhi Thursday, a source said.

The plane, which had 168 passengers on board, made a safe emergency landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here at 12.15 pm, he said

When contacted, a GoAir spokesperson said its flight G8319 made a turn back to Mumbai due to a "technical glitch", which was later rectified.

The aircraft is back into operations, after being grounded for a brief period, he said.

"GoAir flight G8319 departed for Delhi from the Mumbai airport at 10.17 am. However, mid-air, one of the aircraft engines experienced high vibrations, forcing the pilot to seek ATC's permission to return to Mumbai," the source said.

 

The aircraft safely landed back at the airport here under emergency conditions at 12.15 pm, the source added.

"Flight G8 319 (Mumbai-Delhi) returned to Mumbai after the take-off due to a technical glitch. Post-normal landing, all passengers were immediately accommodated on to another aircraft for their journey to Delhi," GoAir said in a statement.

There were 168 passengers on board the A320neo plane, the spokesperson said.

The crew operated within the established guidelines to provide for safe travel, it said adding the (snag) rectification work was in progress.

Replying to a PTI query on this issue, the engine maker said, "Pratt & Whitney is working closely with GoAir to address the issue that occurred on the flight G8 319 operating from MumbaiDelhi."

In a separate statement, P&W also clarified that based on inspections completed to date, root cause (for grounding of GoAir planes) has not been attributed to the engines.

"Pratt & Whitney understands that GoAir reports some grounded A320Neo aircraft. Based on inspections completed to date, root cause has not been attributed to the engines. We have no safety concerns with the GTF powered fleet, including at GoAir. We will continue to support GoAir in their investigations," the statement said.

Thursday's incident is the first one involving a P&W jet engine experiencing in-flight vibrations after the government gave a clean chit to these engines following a stakeholders' meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.