Jet Airways flight returns to Mumbai with passengers suffering nosebleeds after 'crew pressure error'

Video on social media showed oxygen masks deployed

FILE PHOTO: A Jet Airways passenger aircraft takes off from the airport in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, India, August 12, 2013. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo
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Thirty passengers on a Jet Airways flight received medical treatment on Thursday morning after cabin crew forgot to switch on the pressurisation system.

The passengers were treated for nosebleeds and headaches having boarded flight 9W697 to travel from Mumbai to Jaipur.

Some of them took to social media to show the situation on board the flight with the oxygen masks being used.

Satish Nair said on Twitter that he suffered bleeding from the nose and claimed that passenger safety was "completely ignored".

Lalit Gupta, joint director general of India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, told local media that the crew "forgot to select the bleed switch due to which the cabin pressure could not be maintained".

He added that oxygen masks were deployed and affected passengers were attended to by doctors at the airport.

Jet Airways released a statement saying that the plane "made an air turn due to loss in cabin pressure" and "landed normally in Mumbai". It added: "All guests were deplaned safely and taken to the terminal. First aid was administered to few guests who complained of ear pain, bleeding nose etc.

"The flight's cockpit crew has been taken off scheduled duties pending investigation. The airline is making alternative flight arrangements for guests on this flight. Jet Airways regrets the inconvenience caused to its guests."

Flightradar24's flight map showed the plane reached an altitude of 11,000 feet before turning back to the airport.

Jet Airways later said that 144 of the original 166 passengers travelled to Jaipur on an alternative flight provided by the airline. It said 17 of them wished to travel at another point in time.

"Five guests who were referred to a hospital for additional medical check-up accompanied by the Jet Airways’ Care team have since been released, post medical examination," Jet said.

"The airline will continue to offer necessary medical care and attention to the concerned guests as required. Jet Airways is also extending full cooperation to the DGCA for the ongoing investigation of the event."

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