Jetstar flight grounded by horrific mistake
Jetstar is in hot water with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) after a worker inspecting one of the line’s aircraft place a clipboard containing paperwork inside one of the engines and forgot to remove it before take-off.
The plane, which was scheduled to fly from Auckland to Sydney on October 27 last year, was already in the air when the captain was alerted by an Auckland air traffic controller.
The captain had to think quick under the circumstances, and despite finding no abnormal indications in the instruments he decided the best bet would be to return to Auckland.
And when you read the ATSB report, it sounds like a good thing he did!
“While preparing the aircraft for departure the leading hand placed a clipboard in the right engine which was subsequently ingested during start-up,” the report found.
“During the (subsequent) walk-around the dispatcher noticed the clipboard in the right engine but, believing it would be retrieved prior to the aircraft departing, the dispatcher did not notify the leading hand or supervisor of the foreign object debris as per company procedures.”
Once the aircraft was grounded, paper was found throughout the engine, with minor damage found to an engine fan blade and an attrition liner, which dampens engine noise.
The ATSB believe Jetstar is lucky the situation wasn’t far worse.
“The presence of foreign object debris poses a significant threat to aircraft safety. It has the potential to cause aircraft damage during critical phases of flight, costing airlines and airports millions of dollars each year,” it claims.
“This incident demonstrates the effect foreign object debris has on aircraft operations and emphasises the importance of not placing objects in aircraft engines. It further highlights that all staff operating near aircraft are responsible for reporting any non-normal events they encounter.
“It should not be assumed that others will perform a task where a hazard has been identified.”
Jetstar responded to the incident, telling News.com.au, “A plastic clipboard was inadvertently left on the engine cowl of a Jetstar A320 aircraft by our ground handler at Auckland Airport just prior to departure.”
“While this incident didn’t impact the safe operation of the aircraft, we take it very seriously. Since this occurred we have updated our procedures which includes a specific warning about not placing items in the engine cowling and improved detail around checks and responsibilities of the aircraft dispatch process.”
What are your thoughts? Does Jetstar have a case to answer for?