SpiceJet's aircraft returns to start after developing engine issues

New Delhi: SpiceJet's airlines one Boeing 737 Max aeroplane flew to Durgapur from Chennai, returned after one of the engines developed issues amid flight on Tuesday, PTI reported citing DGCA officials' account.

DGCA informed that the aircraft returned to do an "air turnback" as one of the engine's oil filter bypass lights lit up. Noticing the event, the pilot switched off the engine and returned the flight to Chennai, the aviation regulator of India said.

It added that the craft is grounded, and a probe has been initiated on the matter.

The incident was the second five months for Max planes of SpiceJet. Last December, another flew from Mumbai to Kolkata, exhibited engine issues and was made to return.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had grounded all Max planes on March 13, 2019, after an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crashed plane near Addis Ababa, killing 157 people, including four Indians. The ban on the aircraft was lifted, and commercial flight operations were started last August 26, only after DGCA performed necessary software rectifications. Following that, SpiceJet also initiated commercial flights with Max planes in November last.

SpiceJet said on Wednesday that the aircraft was returned due to a technical issue, adding that the craft landed back safely. However, the US-based Boeing did not respond to PTI's queries.

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