Jet Airways bus driver dozes off, hits AI plane in Kolkata

The driver of a Jet Airways passenger bus hit an Air India flight parked on the tarmac of Kolkata airport on Tuesday morning.

While the driver of the bus confessed to having fallen asleep while driving, no casualties or injuries were reported since both the bus and the aircraft were empty.

According to sources in the city airport, driver Momin Ali rammed into the aircraft after he lost control when he fell asleep on the wheel. Admitting to the situation, he told officials he was overworked.

Ali had completed a night shift, but continued to work in the day shift. The bus is one among many used to ferry passengers from the terminal to an aircraft ready for take-off.

Although no one was hurt, the accident is believed to have caused the national carrier damage of nearly Rs 400 crore. Sources said that while the police could arrest Ali, they are looking into his antecedents and trying to ascertain if he had other intentions.

Till late Tuesday evening, no such information had come in and a medical examination cleared him of having consumed any alcohol or narcotic substances.

Officials said the plane was parked at Bay 32 and undergoing technical checks before it was to leave for Silchar in Assam when the speeding bus deviated from its route and hit the aircraft’s right wing.

Air India officials said that the aircraft was grounded after the incident and the airline had to cancel two of its flights to the North East.

Airport director A K Sharma told reporters that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered the regional safety manager to conduct an investigation.