Tigerair flight TR2638 to Chennai was forced to return to Changi Airport on Friday (Oct 16) after the crew was advised that the cowling of the aircraft’s left engine had fallen off.
In an email statement to Channel NewsAsia on Saturday, an airline spokesperson said a mayday call was made “as a precaution and in order for the pilot to secure priority for landing and the necessary ground assistance”.
These photos sent anonymously to Channel NewsAsia show the affected Tigerair aircraft.
“The pilot then commenced a turn back, bringing all passengers and crew safely back to Singapore,” the spokesperson said, adding that the flight, which departed Singapore at 8.46pm on Friday, returned to Changi Airport on the same day at 11.20pm.
Tigerair also said that the next flight to Chennai took off at 2.07am and reached its destination at 3.25am local time on Saturday morning. Only 167 out of the original 172 passengers got on the flight, it added.
“We are currently working closely with the authorities to investigate the incident,” Tigerair said.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
