Image Courtesy: Press Trust of India
A Jet Airways bus reportedly carrying the cabin crew rammed into a stationary Alliance Air plane yesterday at Netaji Subas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. The freak accident occurred at 5:25 A.M. when the driver of the bus, Momin Ali, fell asleep on the wheel that ended up with the bus crashing into the wing and the propeller of the plane owned by Alliance Air which is a part of Air India.
The plane, that costs Rs. 400 crores has sustained extensive damage to the right engine, right landing gear and also some other parts which could cost the company to the tune of crores or may could even end up being scrapped if some reports are to be believed.
The national carrier was quoted saying that it was a clear and fog-less morning when the bus entered Bay 32 and hit the aircraft. Meanwhile the driver of the bus, Momin Ali was arrested under sections 279 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code. The aforementioned aircraft was scheduled to leave for Silchar at 7:30 A.M. and hence the plane didn’t have any occupants at the time of the ill fated incident. The said flight was cancelled later on after being grounded while passengers had to be accommodated on other flights.
A.K. Sharma, Director, Kolkata Airport confirmed that Momin has been put through a breath analysis test and a medical test. The tests revealed that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol while he admitted to falling asleep over the wheel. While complaints have been registered with Airport Authority of India (AAI), NSCBI airport police station, and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) by Air India, Jet Airways too has begun investigating the incident from their side while claiming that the coach accidentally collided with the stationary aircraft.