As many as 30 out of 166 passengers on a Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Jaipur on Thursday suffered nasal and ear bleeding while several others complained of a headache owing to a cabin pressure problem, sources said.
According to reports, the incident took place during the climb as cabin crews reportedly forgot to select switch to maintain cabin pressure. The Boeing 737 aircraft returned to Mumbai mid-air after suffering a loss in cabin pressure.
"During the 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. "Out of 166 passengers on board, 30 passengers are affected... some have nose bleeding, few have ear bleeding and some are complaining of a headache," the official added.
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As per the latest reports, Five of the 30 passengers have been taken to Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital in suburban Vile Parle after they were deplaned in Mumbai.
Briefing about their medical conditions, Dr Rajendra Patenkar, Chief Operating Officer of the hospital said, "Most of them will have mild conductive deafness for some period of time. Till then they have been advised not to fly again".
However, Jet Airways has made alternative flight arrangements for the guests onboard Boeing 737, which is now scheduled to take off from Mumbai for Jaipur at 10.15 am.
Taking cognisance of the dreadful incident, Ministry of Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu ordered an enquiry asking the Director-General to submit a report in connection to the incident soon. The crew has also been taken off duty while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) started an investigation into the same.
Meanwhile, narrating the incident, a passenger said, "The flight landed at Mumbai airport after an hour and we were told that we will be shifted to a different flight. This is an unfortunate incident. After we took off the AC malfunctioned, then air pressure system malfunctioned too and oxygen masks came out. Some of us experienced nose bleeding and headache".
The mishap would be considered another big blow for Jet Airways as the airline company was already hit by a standalone net loss of Rs 1,323 crore for the quarter ended June 30.
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The company, however, has blamed macroeconomic factors led by an increase in skyrocketing fuel price, a depreciating rupee and the resulting mismatch between high fuel prices and low fares primarily for poor performance in the quarter.
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