An investigation has begun into a fatal incident at Mumbai Airport after an Air India technician was sucked into an aircraft engine.
According to a Times of India report, the tragedy happened when the co-pilot of the flight mistook a signal for starting the engine.
The victim, who was standing close, got sucked into the engine of the aircraft, which was sitting on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji domestic airport.
He has been named as Ravi Subramanian.
Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani said an inquiry has begun and expressed the airline’s heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
"We are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport this evening when an Air India technician died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated," he said.
Lohani said an ex-gratia payment had already been made to the man’s family.
The pilot and co-pilot of the flight, which was due to take-off for Hyderabad, have been taken off flying duties pending the inquiry, which is being conducted by officials of regulator Directorate-General of Civil Aviation.
