(CNN) – Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet is under government surveillance following an incident in which the plane’s autopilot malfunctioned, causing severe turbulence and injuring several people on board.
The country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is looking into what happened on SpiceJet Flight 945, which was traveling from Mumbai to Durgapur, West Bengal, on May 1.
CNN affiliate News18 reported that the autopilot function on the B737-800 aircraft stopped working for two minutes mid-flight, resulting in the crew having to manually fly the plane until it could fly. rehibilitate.
As a result, the aircraft experienced a strong turbulence, which caused several overhead bins to explode, items to spill over the plane, and emergency oxygen masks to fall. Fifteen people – 12 passengers and 3 crew members – were hospitalized after the plane landed at Durgapur’s Kazi Nazrul Islam (RDP) Airport.
“The seat belt sign is turned on when the plane is in turbulence. Pilots and crew have issued many notices instructing passengers to remain seated and fasten seat belts. Due to severe turbulence, very little has been done. passengers were injured,” a spokesperson for SpiceJet said in a statement to CNN.
The DGCA has quickly taken measures related to the incident. The plane itself was landed in Kolkata to be inspected. In addition, the agency removed several crew members from the flight and the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in Durgapur, who allowed the plane to leave after the incident.
News18 confirmed that two of the passengers are still hospitalized in critical condition, one with a head injury and the other with a spinal cord injury.
“SpiceJet expresses regret over this unfortunate incident and is providing all possible medical assistance to those injured,” the spokesperson added.
CNN has reached out to DGCA for additional information and comment.
