Two IndiGo pilots suspended for flying plane with tail prop attached

Two IndiGo pilots operating an ATR aircraft on the Hyderabad-Vijaywada route on July 24 this year have had their pilot licences suspended for two months.

The pilots have been suspended because they continued with the flight despite being informed that a tail prop was attached to the aircraft, something which could have caused structural damage to the aircraft during flight, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in its order.

Sources said that a tail prop is basically the removable tail stand on the ATR 72 aircraft which prevents the aircraft from tipping over due to weight imbalance/improper loading. It is required to be removed by pilots before the flight.