IndiGo s A320 Neo withdrawn on defect report after flight

New Delhi March 18 (IANS) Budget carrier IndiGo Airlines announced on Sunday that it A320 Neo aircraft that operated on the Bengaluru-Delhi route earlier in the day was withdrawn here for a maintenance check to attend to a reported defect.

The airline in a statement described the exercise as a maintenance check that was conducted as part of a programme of early detection.

"An A320 neo aircraft that operated Bengaluru-Delhi today morning was proactively withdrawn in Delhi for a maintenance check to attend to a pilot-reported defect. These maintenance checks are part of a comprehensive program of early detection " it said.

"During the maintenance check metal chips were observed on 1 Engine 3 Bearing Chip detector which is a known concern on the Neo engine."

Meanwhile IndiGo and GoAir cancelled 48 flights on Wednesday as almost a third of their A320 Neo aircraft fleet remained grounded for the third day following a safety directive by the aviation regulator DGCA. Of these flights 42 are of IndiGo and six belong to GoAir.

--IANS
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