Mumbai, July 29: Weeks after the SpiceJet aircraft skidded off the runway while landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on July 1, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday suspended two flight pilots - pilot-in-command (PIC) and co-pilot - for a year and stated that he would face demotion for another six months where he will fly as a co-pilot. The latest report arrived after the preliminary probe which found the pilot guilty in analysing the Mumbai airport runway.

The probe conducted by the DGCA even found out that Boeing 737 flight had an unstabilised approach and was coming too fast. It mentioned that the SpiceJet flight SG 6237 from Jaipur to Mumbai landed after consuming half the airstrip. Following this, the aircraft (VT-SYK) remained stuck on the runway for almost three days, affecting the flight operation at one of the busiest airports of the country. Spicejet Aircraft Skidding: Efforts to Resume Operations at Mumbai Airport Underway.

Releasing the report, DGCA stated that pilots had failed to exercise due caution and take corrective measures resulting in a runway excursion. It said, as TOI reports, "Preliminary investigation carried out by DGCA revealed that the final approach was unstabilised and aircraft touched down with high speed at approximately 1600 metres from runway 27 threshold (usable part of the runway) and such unstabilised approach resulted into runway excursion."

Along with this, the aviation monitoring body issued a show-cause notice to the pilots "for endangering the safety of aircraft and passenger on-board." Accusing the PIC of due caution, DGCA joint DG Bir Singh Rai the PIC's flying licence has been suspended for a year. Adding more, Singh said that PIC's privileges would be restored after subsequent assessment.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2019 08:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).