PW engine snag: IndiGo's flight to Jaipur returns to Lucknow

NEW DELHI: In yet another case of Pratt and Whitney (PW) engine trouble on Airbus A320 Neo, an IndiGo Lucknow-Jaipur flight on Monday had to return to Lucknow after one of the two engines developed a snag. The latest snag happened on A320 Neo (VT-ITQ) operating as 6E 451 soon after take off from Lucknow. Pilots experienced heavy vibration on one engine and decided to return to Lucknow, where the plane landed safely.
An IndiGo spokesperson said a pilot of its 6E-451, Lucknow-Jaipur flight of Monday, “observed high vibration on engine number two.As a precaution, he returned the aircraft to Lucknow. The aircraft is currently at Lucknow and being inspected by the technical team.”
A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said the aircraft will need engine replacement. Sources say the engine had failed or stalled.
A PW spokesman said: “The IndiGo A320 Neo aircraft which was involved in air turn back at Lucknow on January 21 was powered by PW1100G-JM engines. We are working with our customer to help minimize any disruption to their operations. The PW1100G-JM powers a fleet of more than 290 A320 Neo aircraft worldwide which have achieved more than 1.4 million engine flight hours of operation.”
The latest trouble with PW’s snag-prone engines for the A320 Neo comes days after the DGCA had asked IndiGo and GoAir — the two Indian carriers that use this combo — not to operate their A320 Neos to Port Blair. In addition, the DGCA had also asked IndiGo and GoAir to "create awareness among cabin and cockpit crew (pilots) about odour/burning smell/smoke (even if slightest) during approach phase and positive reporting to cockpit crew for necessary action.”