Chennai: A potential disaster was averted after the pilot of an IndiGo flight discovered a crack on the front windscreen of the aircraft, moments before it landed in Chennai on Thursday night.
It was a flight from Madurai and things were normal till the crack was detected. The pilot informed the Chennai ATC and necessary precautions were taken for a safe landing.
The flight, which carried 76 passengers, landed safely at 11:12 pm. According to airport sources, the pilot informed the ATC immediately after spotting the crack and safety protocols were swiftly initiated.
All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft before it was moved to Bay No. 95, where technical teams began preparations to replace the damaged glass panel. The cause of the damage has not yet been officially determined.
According to pilots, a serious situation can emerge if the front windshield breaks when an aircraft is cruising at 30-35,000 feet. There will be immediate drop in cockpit air pressure and the pilots will find it difficult to control the aircraft. There is also risk of injury to the pilots.
On Friday, civil aviation minister Rammohan Naidu chaired a monthly review meeting with major domestic airlines and aviation officials to assess safety, operations, and passenger services ahead of the festive season.
He emphasised strict adherence to safety protocols and urged airlines to keep airfares reasonable, directing the DGCA’s Tariff Monitoring Unit to ensure compliance. Airlines reported additional capacity on busy routes and re-affirmed their commitment to passenger convenience.
