Faulty engines partly to blame for Kingfisher collapse: Mallya

Vijay Mallya, the embattled businessman who is avoiding Indian judicial issues by sitting snug in the UK, has now blamed faulty engines as one of the factors for the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines.

A group firm of Pratt & Whitney has been sued for supplying defective engines to Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya said amid aviation regulator DGCA ordering detailed inspection of P&W engines powering some Airbus 320 neo planes being operated in India.

Mallya has been declared a wilful defaulter and is wanted by Indian authorities for default in payment of loans related to Kingfisher Airlines that was grounded in 2012. He is also wanted in other cases (See: SBI declares Vijay Mallya, his firms wilful defaulters).

"Not surprised at DGCA enquiry into Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines. Kingfisher Airlines sadly collapsed also due to faulty engines," he said in a tweet today.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered detailed inspection of 21 Airbus 320 neo planes of IndiGo and GoAir that are equipped with P&W engines, which have been frequently facing technical glitches.

"We have sued IAE, a Pratt & Whitney Group Company, for compensation towards defective aircraft engines supplied to Kingfisher Airlines," Mallya said in another tweet.

Media queries sent to P&W on the issue have not yet received a response.

As many as 21 A320 neo planes that are using P&W engines would be examined and the exercise is expected to be completed in the next two weeks, a senior DGCA official had said on 28 February.

On that same day P&W said it was working with IndiGo and GoAir as well as the regulator over the issues.