Jet Airways passengers bleed mid-air after crew forgets to maintain cabin pressure; flight turns back
MUMBAI: At least 30 passengers onboard a Jet Airways flight fell sick, some bleeding from nose and ear, after the attending crew forgot to maintain cabin pressure. Several passengers also complained of headache.
The Jaipur-bound Jet Airways flight 9W 0697 took off from Mumbai airport on Thursday morning.
During take-off, the cabin crew forgot to select the bleed switch to maintain the pressure inside flight. Soon, passengers felt dizzy and sick.
"Thirty out of 166 passengers experienced nose and ear bleeding, some also complained of headache," informed news agency ANI.
The Boeing 737 aircraft returned to Mumbai.
Doctors are currently attending to all the 166 passengers at Mumbai airport.
"Panic situation due to technical fault in @jetairways 9W 0697 going from Mumbai to Jaipur. Flt return back to Mumbai after 45 mts. All passengers are safe including me," tweeted one passenger aboard the flight.
The crew has been taken off duty and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started an investigation, informed Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
"During climb, the crew forgot to select bleed switch due to which cabin pressurisation could not be maintained.
"As a result, oxygen masks got deployed," the official at aviation regulator DGCA said.
Responding to the incident, a Jet Airways spokesperson said, "Jet Airways Mumbai-Jaipur flight today made an air turn back due to loss in cabin pressure.
"The aircraft, with 166 guests and 5 crew landed normally in Mumbai. All guests were deplaned safely. First aid was administered to guests who complained of bleeding nose etc:
The flight’s cockpit crew has been taken off scheduled duties pending investigation. The airline is making alternative flight arrangements for guests on this flight."
On Wednesday, the Income Tax Department conducted "verification surveys" at several Jet Airways offices in New Delhi and Mumbai for alleged falsification of accounts and suspicious transactions.