Initial probe points finger at pilot

KOCHI: A pilot error might have caused the mishap in which a Gulf Air flight skidded off the runway on Monday, initial investigations by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have pointed out.DGCA officials found discrepancies between the pilot’s statement and the weather condition at the time of landing, sources said.DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan told Express that it was yet to receive the inquiry report.“The inquiry report hasn’t been submitted yet.Once it’s there, we’ll be able to know what went wrong,” he said.A DGCA team led by Deputy Director-General Aravind Sardana and Higher Air Safety Officer Durai Raj was in Kochi on Monday to investigate the matter.On Tuesday, the officials collected evidence from the pilot and the six crew members.The pilot continued to stick to his earlier statement that the mishap occurred due to inclement weather, the sources said.The officials are also collecting information about the flying experience of the pilot.There are unconfirmed reports that the commander pilot was on his maiden flight.“Before reaching the central line, the plane swerved off the runway.We checked the weather reports.Nothing unusual was reported.The voice recorder and airport marking will be checked.Also there were no landing issues regarding signal or the runway as claimed by the pilot,” the officials said.