India’s aviation regulator grounded two pilots after a Vistara plane landed with as little as 5 minutes worth of fuel left, according to reports.
The airline claims a diversion due to bad weather was the reason for the low fuel, as regulator Director General of Civil Aviation conducts an investigation.
The pilot of Flight UK944, originally flying between Mumbai and Delhi declared a ‘Fuel Mayday’ when the emergency fuel reserves were needed.
Vistara says the pilot ‘initiated a diversion to Lucknow due to bad weather over Delhi. However, the visibility (in Lucknow) suddenly dropped and a safe landing was not possible.’
A Vistara spokesperson said the flight headed for another airport but then Lucknow ATC said visibility had improved and the flight eventually turned around and landed there.
The A320Neo had been circling in the air for about 75 minutes.
"The unexpected drop in visibility at the destination alternate was the main reason why the aircraft ended up in a low-fuel situation despite carrying excess fuel over and above the required flight plan fuel as per regulations," the spokesman said.
"We are fully cooperating with the regulatory authorities in their assessment of the circumstances that led to the diversions."
