New Delhi, January 18: Low-budget carriers Indigo and GoAir have been banned from flying Airbus 320neo fitted with Pratt and Whitney (PW) engines to Port Blair airport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India's regulatory body, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday barred the two airlines from flying its aircraft to Port Blair as a part of safety norms. The DGCA notice stated that the Interglobe Aviation, which runs Indigo, and GoAir have been directed to identify and fix the glitches. DGCA Cracks Whip on Pratt & Whitney Engines: Here's Why IndiGo and GoAir A320neo Planes Are Grounded. 

DGCA informed that the decision was taken after a meeting with the Ministry of Civil Aviation on January 8 where the performance of Airbus eight 320 aircraft fitted with P&W 1100 series was reviewed. Reports inform that a high-level meeting was also held with all the stakeholders i.e. Airbus, Indigo, GoAir and operators on the issue of Airbus 320 (Neo) P&W engine issue.

After the meeting, it was decided to create awareness among cabin and cockpit crew about odour, burning smell and smoke. According to a report by ANI, the DGCA said necessary action would be taken if any odour or smoke is observed in the air-conditioning pack in the flight and cockpit crew need to identify the source of odour by isolating packs one at a time.

The decision comes after several aircraft suffered a technical glitch in the P&W engine earlier. On 10th December 2018, an IndiGo flight made an emergency landing in Kolkata after smoke was detected in its cabin. In another similar incident, an IndiGo A320neo flight from Port Blair to Kolkata reportedly suffered mid-air engine snag on 23rd December 2018. Also, 11 Airbus 320 (Neo) P&W fitted planes were grounded by IndiGo and GoAir.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 18, 2019 09:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).