Safety rules flouted openly at Kochi airport

a shocking safety breach at Kochi airport that could have had disastrous consequences endangering air passengers. The wing of a Jet Airways aircraft nearly collided with a step ladder, which had mysteriously moved out of its parked position and was moving freely about without a driver.

The incident occurred on July 23 at one of the parking bays at Kochi International Airport where a Jet Airways Flight 9W 561 which had just come in from Sharjah, was standing. At about 2 pm, a 'driverless' step ladder disengaged from its parked position and ran free, stopping a few inches before hitting the wing of the plane.

Airport authorities had brushed off responsibility saying the ground handling agency has to ensure that the safety rules are not flouted. It seems that the ladder belonged to a ground handling agency named World Flight Services. According to sources, airport authorities had allotted the agency parking space for its equipment between aircraft parking bays 12 and 13, and it is from here that the step ladder rolled out and had a free run nearly damaging the aircraft.

Kochi international airport authorities say they are reviewing procedures on their side, but place the blame squarely on the private ground handling agency.

"There are certain procedures which we expect them to follow. That has to be ensured by the persons in the ground handling agency and those agencies who have been given the particular slot to park their equipment, they have to ensure they follow that procedure. We are already in the process of reviewing our procedures on the air side. Right now a dilution of the procedure being followed by the agency was the point," said an Kochi airport official

However, authorities cannot brush off responsibility, as it is Kochi International Airport Ltd which decides on the parking lot allotment and where the vehicles and equipment should be parked. Accordingly such an allotment was granted to WFS for their ladders and vehicles between Bay 12 and Bay 13.

Kochi airport is not new to this game of passing the buck; two days ago a cargo parcel reportedly ran right into an aircraft, setting it on fire. The Kochi International Airport Ltd had even then absolved itself of all blame pointing instead at the company that shipped the parcel as well as the courier company delivering it.