News has emerged out of Mumbai today that an Air India flight attendant has fallen from the open door of a Boeing 777-300 aircraft as it prepared to push back from its parking stand. The flight attendant is said to have sustained serious injuries in the incident although is alive and being treated in a local hospital.
The Aviation Herald reports that the large widebody aircraft was scheduled to operate the short hour and a half Air India flight AI864 between Mumbai and Delhi this morning – a route which is more often operated by smaller Airbus A320 single-aisle aircraft.
Named as Harsha Lobo, the 53-year old veteran flight attendant is said to have sustained a right leg compound fracture, fractures in both heels and soft tissue injury in her chest, abdomen and lower spine.
It’s unclear exactly how Lobo fell from the aircraft but its believed she was attempting to close the door as the plane readied for departure. It’s understood that foul play is not being considered by authorities as a plausible reason for the accident although the investigation continues.
Despite what must have been a horrific incident for all the crew involved, the flight departed Mumbai just over an hour after its scheduled departure. It’s not known what help and support Air India is offering the crew who were caught up in this accident.
In the last week, details have emerged of a plan by Air India to crack down on what some commentators perceive as overindulged flight attendants at the airline. Crew managers have implemented new rules that force flight attendants to share hotel rooms on international layovers and new sanctions threaten flight attendants with 12-month domestic only duties if they arrive late for work.
In the past, Air India has been criticised for threatening to sack flight attendants who fail to lose weight despite still being fit and able to perform their duties.
