An Air India service engineer died in a freak accident after he was sucked into the engine of a plane at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday, according to The Times of India.
The deceased, identified as Ravi Subramanium, was supervising the aircraft's pushback at approximately 8.30 p.m. when he got pulled into the Hyderabad-bound plane's engine and died instantly minutes before take-off. Efforts to recover the technician's badly mutilated body are ongoing.
"An Air India technician died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619; the incident is being investigated," Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani said via Twitter. "We are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport."
Air India sources have blamed the accident on the miscommunication between the pilot of the Airbus A-319 aircraft and the service engineer for the accident. The co-pilot, a trainee, and the more experienced pilot, a senior captain, are being questioned as part of the investigation, according to NDTV.
"At the moment, we are absolutely clueless on how this person was near the aircraft. Only an inquiry can establish whose negligence it was and whether the engine should have been switched on at that time," an Air India official said, according to The Hindustan Times.
AI CMD MrAshwani Lohani said we are deeply saddened & regret the tragic incident @ Mumbai airport this evening when an Air India technician
— Air India (@airindiain) December 16, 2015
died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. — Air India (@airindiain) December 16, 2015
