Jet Airways Pilot ignores Crew Warnings

Just found this whilst browsing… sounds very familiar to the recent Phuket Air incident.

23 March 2005 – AJS News
The lives of 150 passengers aboard a Jet Airways flight were endangered when the pilot refused to listen to the cabin crew that there was a suspected LPG leak in the hold. By the time the pilot heeded the requests of the senior staff in the plane that the smell was too strong to be ignored and passengers were panicking, the flight was already airborne.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now decided to take action against the pilot for violating safety norms and endangering passenger safety.

“In spite of being reminded by the cabin crew of the possibility of a gas leak in the aircraft at least three times, the pilot S Chabbra took off. She asked the Air Traffic Control (ATC) for emergency landing much later,” said a top DGCA official in Delhi.

The Jet Airways flight 9W 351 to Delhi was carrying raw film consigned by Mumbai-based Ramnord Film Labs along with some LPG gas lanterns in the cargo hold — both classified as dangerous goods by the DGCA.

“We told the pilot about the foul smell of LPG emanating from the air-conditioning ducts first when we were closing the aircraft doors, then while taxiing and then again at take-off,” said an airhostess who was on the flight.

Chabbra allegedly did not pay heed to the cabin crew and only relented when she was told the passengers were panicking. She then asked the ATC for priority landing.

“We have completed a preliminary report which has found the pilot guilty, since she was told about the leak by the cabin crew when the flight was on the ground. Also the company should have packed the lanterns and film properly, considering they are classified as dangerous goods,” said the DGCA official.

“There could have been a disaster because the presence of raw film in the same area increased the risk more, as raw film catches fire instantaneously,” said a Jet Airways official.