Two IndiGo pilots suspended for flying plane with tail support

Lucknow: Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Thursday suspended two IndiGo pilots for two months as they were flying a Hyderabad-Vijaywada flight on 24th of july with the tail support.

They did so even though they were informed about it by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) immediately after take-off, as regarded by an official.The suspension would begin from July 24.

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During loading or unloading of any kind of cargo in an aircraft, the tail support or 'tail prop' is used to prevent the plane from tipping over backwards.

"The pilots- Captain Amit Bansal and Captain Bharat Saini -- were informed by the ATC immediately after take-off that their tail prop is still attached to their ATR-72 aircraft. However, the pilots decided to keep flying towards Vijaywada instead of returning," the official of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

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"This could have caused structural damage to the ATR72 aircraft during the flight," the official added.

The regulator had issued a show-cause notice to the two pilots on August 27, asking them to explain as to why action should not be taken against them.

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The official further stated "Both the pilots in their reply to the notices admitted that landing back in Hyderabad would have been a better decision.”

On Thursday, the regulator decided to suspend both the pilots for a period of two months. "This period of two months would be calculated from July 24," the official added.