Oman Air engine start incident: In a incident in which a potential disaster was narrowly avoided at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) when the pilot of an Oman Air flight reportedly started the engine while passengers luggage was still being loaded. The incident occurred on October 5, raising serious concerns about safety procedures at the airport.Engine started without clearanceAccording to reports, the Oman Air pilot initiated the aircrafts engine without receiving the necessary clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). At the time, the aerobridge and bulk loader were still connected to the plane, and boarding for the Delhi-Muscat flight had not yet begun. Fortunately, no one was near the engine, preventing a major accident.The bulk loader, which is used to load and offload passengers luggage, was operational when the pilot started the engine. Under normal protocols, the engine should only be activated after all passengers have boarded, luggage is secured, and the aerobridge is detached. The pilots premature engine start was reportedly due to an attempt to fix a technical issue, according to The Times of India.Previous Oman Air incident in ChennaiThis event follows another recent issue involving Oman Air. At Chennai International Airport, one of the flights tires was found to be damaged after landing. The damage, discovered by the maintenance crew, affected the tread of the tire—a critical component in aircraft safety. Fortunately, all 146 passengers aboard were unharmed.The damaged tire led to maintenance checks and delayed the return journey. Passengers were accommodated in local hotels while a new tire was flown in from Mumbai and Delhi.Safety protocols under scrutinyThe incident at Delhi Airport is a stark reminder of the critical importance of adhering to safety protocols. Normally, ground staff must give clearance to pilots only after boarding is complete and the aircraft is fully prepared for takeoff. Starting an engine prematurely, especially during the boarding or luggage loading phase, could have resulted in a catastrophic accident.While no injuries were reported in either case, the two incidents have placed Oman Air under scrutiny for its safety measures. Aviation authorities are likely to examine these occurrences to prevent future lapses.
