DGCA grounds 8 Indigo, 3 GoAir aircraft over engine issues

New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday grounded 11 A320 neo aircraft powered by a specific series of Pratt & Whitney engines following instances of engine failures during flights.

Of these, 8 are operated by IndiGo and three by GoAir.

The decision comes hours after an A320 neo aircraft of IndiGo suffered engine failure mid-air and made an emergency landing at Ahmedabad airport.

Citing safety of aircraft operations, the DGCA said, A320 neos fitted with PW1100 engines beyond ESN 450 have been grounded with immediate effect.

"Both IndiGo and GoAir have been told not to refit these engines, which are spare with them in their inventory," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a release.

The regulator would be in touch with the stakeholders and review the situation in due course, and when European regulator EASA and P&W addresses the issue, it added.

Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey had said that an appropriate decision would be taken on Monday itself.

On February 9, EASA had issued an emergency airworthiness directive for A320 neo planes fitted with PW1100 engines having a particular serial number.

The directive followed instances of the engines shut-down during flights and rejected take-offs involving the A320 neo family aircraft.