Suspected COVID-19 Cases Onboard, Pilot Exits Cockpit Window

On an AirAsia India flight, the pilot-in-command chose to exit the plane through the cockpit’s secondary exit.

With suspected coronavirus-infected passengers aboard AirAsia India's Pune-Delhi flight last Friday, 20 March, the pilot-in-command chose to exit the plane through cockpit's secondary exit, which is a sliding window, after landing.

An AirAsia India spokesperson said, “There was a case reported of suspected Covid-19 passengers aboard I5-732, Pune to New Delhi on 20 March 2020, seated in Row 1. The passengers were subsequently screened and tested negative.”

As a safety measure after landing, the aircraft was parked at a remote bay and suspected passengers disembarked from the front door, the spokesperson noted. All other passengers, escorted by the crew, disembarked from the rear door of the aircraft, the spokesperson added.

"Crew in the cockpit self-quarantined till the cabin environment near the primary exit was ascertained to be safe. The captain elected to disembark from the secondary exit using a secure trestle, given the close proximity of the seats from the cockpit," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson mentioned that aircraft was fumigated and a thorough disinfection and deep cleaning was carried out.

"Our crew are well-trained for incidents of this nature and we would like to put on record our appreciation for their dedication in continuing to serve passengers with the utmost care in the current conditions," the spokesperson noted.