India’s aviation regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended two pilots for flying a plane with the tail support attached.
The Indigo pilots were handed a two-month suspension.
They continued the Hyderabad-Vijaywada flight without taking action even after Air Traffic Control immediately informed them after take-off.
Also known as a tail prop, it is used to stabilise an aircraft and stop it from tipping backward when cargo is loaded and offloaded.
"The pilots were informed by the ATC immediately after take-off that their tail prop is still attached to their ATR-72 aircraft. However, the pilots decided to keep flying towards Vijaywada instead of returning," the DGCA said.
"This could have caused structural damage to the ATR72 aircraft during the flight."
Captain Amit Bansal and Captain Bharat Saini were suspended for two months from July 24, which was the date the incident took place.
"Both pilots in their reply to the notices admitted that landing back in Hyderabad would have been a better decision," a DGCA official said.
