A service engineer working with the state-run carrier Air India died after getting sucked into the engine of an Airbus A-319 aircraft as it pushed back for take-off at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Wednesday.
According to sources, the incident occured at around 8.30 p.m., when the co-pilot of the Mumbai-Hyderabad flight AI 619 misunderstood a signal from the ground staff and started the engine, which then sucked in the victim, Ravi Subramaniam.
The aircraft's engine is now being dismantled to recover the body. The airlines later tweeted about the incident.
AI CMD MrAshwani Lohani said we are deeply saddened & regret the tragic incident @ Mumbai airport this evening when an Air India technician
— Air India (@airindiain) December 16, 2015
died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
— Air India (@airindiain) December 16, 2015
The airlines, the local police and other authorities are investigating the incident to find out whether there was a security lapse in the flight's take-off procedure.
A similar accident had occurred in India in 1995, when a person crossing the runway at the Hyderabad airport on his moped was sucked into an engine when an aircraft landed there.