NEW DELHI: A SpiceJet aircraft hit a pole at the Delhi airport during pushback on Monday morning and its wing got damaged. The Boeing 737-800 (VT-SLJ) was scheduled to fly to Jammu as SG-160.
The operating crew (pilots), aircraft maintenance engineer (AME), wing walkers and pushback operator have been off-rostered pending investigation. A senior directorate general of civil aviation official said the aircraft was being pushed back facing south by a push back operator in coordination with AME and two wing walkers.
From parking bay 177, it was to be pushed back till taxi lane F6. “During push back, the B737 was pushed back beyond taxi lane F6 and further apron edge marking. When the aircraft was being aligned, the trailing portion of right wing hit the apron light pole.
Due to the impact, aileron — described by website Skybrary as a primary flight control surface which controls movement about the longitudinal axis of an aircraft — on wing trailing edge got damaged,” said the official. Breath analyser test was conducted on both the pilots, AME, wing walkers and push back operator and they all tested negative — meaning they were not inebriated.
A SpiceJet spokesperson said: “On March 28, SpiceJet flight SG 160 was scheduled to operate between Delhi and Jammu. During pushback, the right wing trailing edge came in close contact with a pole, causing damage to aileron. A replacement aircraft has been arranged to operate the flight.” Wing walkers and pushback operator have been of
