DGCA puts riders on use of P&W engines by IndiGo

NEW DELHI : India’s aviation regulator on Sunday directed the country’s largest airline, IndiGo, to stop flying Airbus A320neo planes powered by Pratt & Whitney (P&W) 1100 series engines that have been in operation for more than 3,000 hours, a top official of the agency said. The airline has a fortnight to comply with the instruction.

The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) issued the directive after three separate cases of engine shutdown on such aircraft on 24, 25 and 26 October, the official said on condition of anonymity. A team of DGCA officials visited IndiGo’s offices earlier in the day to review the airline’s maintenance and safety data.

“These shutdowns were commanded shutdowns,” the DGCA official said. As many as 16 IndiGo aircraft are expected to be affected by the order, he said.