In-flight panic and nose bleeds after Jet Airways pilots forget to pressurise cabin

Under-fire Jet Airways is feeling the heat again.

Passengers on a Mumbai-Jaipur flight had a harrowing experience after low cabin pressure caused about 30 to suffer from ear and nose bleeding.

Several others complained of severe headaches as the plane returned to Mumbai.

The problem was caused by the pilots forgetting to switch on instruments to maintain cabin pressurisation.

The crew have since been grounded pending a full investigation.

"During climb, the crew forgot to select bleed switch due to which cabin pressurisation could not be maintained. As a result, oxygen masks got deployed," air regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.

"Out of 166 passengers on board, 30 passengers are affected… some have nose bleeding, few have ear bleeding and some are complaining of headache," a DGCA offial said.

They were given medical assistance at the airport on arrival.

An Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau official said an investigation will look into possible negligence on the part of the flight crew as checking cabin pressure control is part of a pilot’s pre-flight checklist.