Poor Crew Resource Management and Seatbelt Issues Cited in SpiceJet Turbulence Incident Report

Three years after a SpiceJet flight faced severe turbulence, resulting in a passenger's death and injuries to others, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its findings. The report highlights poor crew resource management and decision-making, alongside passengers not wearing seat belts, as probable causes of the incident.

Representative image

The AAIB's final report on the May 1, 2022 accident also suggests that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) should ensure its officers adhere to the Airworthiness Procedures Manual when deregistering aircraft. This recommendation follows the DGCA's deregistration of the Boeing 737-800 involved in the accident without AAIB's approval.

Flight Details and Passenger Safety

On May 1, flight SG 945 from Mumbai to Durgapur encountered severe turbulence. Many passengers were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from their seats, resulting in injuries. One passenger died during treatment, while three others sustained serious injuries. The flight carried 189 passengers and six crew members.

The AAIB report attributes the accident to inadequate Crew Resource Management (CRM) and poor decision-making by the crew. They chose to fly through adverse weather without maintaining a safe distance from turbulence-prone areas. The cabin crew lacked time to ensure all passengers had fastened their seat belts.

Weather Briefing and Crew Preparedness

The AAIB emphasised that CRM aims to improve situational awareness, leadership, assertiveness, decision-making, flexibility, adaptability, and communication. However, the cabin crew was not briefed about bad weather during pre-departure preparations. They were only informed of expected turbulence by the cockpit crew during descent.

Many passengers were fasting for Ramadan and had not eaten meals, leaving tray tables open. The cabin crew needed more time to secure the cabin and ensure seat belts were fastened. The lack of weather information during pre-departure briefings led them to perform duties routinely.

Safety Recommendations

The AAIB recommends that SpiceJet strictly follow procedures for monitoring and controlling recurring defects. Additionally, it suggests that DGCA, airport operators, and airlines conduct campaigns to raise awareness about seat belt importance among air travellers.

According to norms, DGCA must check for clearance or a closing report from AAIB if an aircraft involved in an accident is being deregistered. However, this procedure was not followed when deregistering the Boeing 737-800 involved in this incident.

The AAIB noted that providing weather information during pre-departure briefings would have enhanced cabin crew's situational awareness. This would have helped them plan and adapt better to changing conditions.

The report has been made public now, highlighting how non-compliance with seat belt instructions led to avoidable injuries during severe turbulence. Ensuring passengers wear seat belts is crucial for safety during such incidents.

With inputs from PTI