From fan&nbsp;blades&nbsp;to escape slides, critical parts are missing from at least two planes of India's bankrupt Go First airline, its Ireland-based lessor ACG Aircraft Leasing has told a court as it seeks to recover aircraft.

Go First and many of its foreign lessors have been locked in a legal dispute for months after the airline was granted bankruptcy protection in India in May. Bankruptcy froze its assets and has prohibited the recovery of more than 50 grounded Airbus planes.

The lessors have so far unsuccessfully argued in Indian courts to get their planes back, citing concerns that parts could go missing and hurt their assets. Lessors are allowed only occasional inspection of Go First planes.

ACG is seeking to take back planes by highlighting that inspections showed parts were missing, but the court has yet to decide on the matter, a person familiar with the case said on Saturday.

In a non-public filing dated July 28 and reviewed by Reuters, ACG submitted pictures and details to the Delhi High Court, listing missing parts from two Airbus A320 planes it inspected.

These included the captain's "side stick" used to fly the aircraft, a tiller that helps steer it while on the ground, engine fan&nbsp;blades&nbsp;that were "completely missing", a partly missing toilet seat and an escape slide that had been removed.

The filing does not say who took out the parts or how they went missing.

Go First, whose lessors also include Standard Chartered's Pembroke Aircraft Leasing, SMBC Aviation and BOC Aviation, did not respond to a request for comment. It has previously said it aims to resume operations and raise investor funds, but the operations remain grounded.

The world's second-largest aircraft lessor, SMBC, warned in May that India's decision to block leasing firms from reclaiming Go planes would jolt the market and spark a confidence crisis.

Go First blames its financial woes on problems with engines from Raytheon-owned Pratt &amp; Whitney. The US&nbsp;engine maker has said the claims are "without merit".

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From fan blades to escape slides, critical parts are missing from at least two planes of India's bankrupt Go First airline, its Ireland-based lessor ACG Aircraft Leasing has told a court as it seeks to recover aircraft.

From fan blades to escape slides, critical parts are missing from at least two planes of India's bankrupt Go First airline, its Ireland-based lessor ACG Aircraft Leasing has told a court as it seeks to recover aircraft. Go First and many of its foreign lessors have been locked in a legal dispute for months after the airline was granted bankruptcy protection in India in May. Bankruptcy froze its assets and has prohibited the recovery of more than 50 grounded Airbus planes. The lessors have so far unsuccessfully argued in Indian courts to get their planes back, citing concerns that parts could go missing and hurt their assets. Lessors are allowed only occasional inspection of Go First planes. ACG is seeking to take back planes by highlighting that inspections showed parts were missing, but the court has yet to decide on the matter, a person familiar with the case said on Saturday. In a non-public filing dated July 28 and reviewed by Reuters, ACG submitted pictures and details to the Delhi High Court, listing missing parts from two Airbus A320 planes it inspected. These included the captain's "side stick" used to fly the aircraft, a tiller that helps steer it while on the ground, engine fan blades that were "completely missing", a partly missing toilet seat and an escape slide that had been removed. The filing does not say who took out the parts or how they went missing. Go First, whose lessors also include Standard Chartered's Pembroke Aircraft Leasing, SMBC Aviation and BOC Aviation, did not respond to a request for comment. It has previously said it aims to resume operations and raise investor funds, but the operations remain grounded. The world's second-largest aircraft lessor, SMBC, warned in May that India's decision to block leasing firms from reclaiming Go planes would jolt the market and spark a confidence crisis. Go First blames its financial woes on problems with engines from Raytheon-owned Pratt & Whitney. The US engine maker has said the claims are "without merit". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fan blades, engine parts go missing from Go First jets, says lessor

In a raging legal dispute over the supply of engines, Pratt &amp; Whitney has informed a Delaware court that it currently has no engines available for India's Go First airline, emphasizing that the airline also lacks rights over them.&nbsp;

Reuters reports that the two companies are in a fierce battle as Go First seeks to enforce an arbitration order obtained in Singapore against Pratt &amp; Whitney, blaming the US firm for its financial woes and accusing it of failing to deliver engines on time. Pratt &amp; Whitney, however, vehemently denies these claims, considering them to be unsubstantiated.

Go First Airline, formerly known as GoAir, has been granted bankruptcy protection in India, with a court-appointed administrator working to revive the struggling airline. This has triggered a bitter confrontation with several of Go First's lessors, who have terminated their lease agreements and are attempting to repossess the planes.

During a recent court hearing, Pratt &amp; Whitney's lawyer argued that Go First no longer possesses any rights over the engines following the termination of the leases. The counsel stated, "There are no engines available to be sent to Go First... these leases have been terminated, and they (engines) cannot be sent because Go First has no right to them."

Disputing this claim, Go First's counsel argued that Pratt &amp; Whitney's position was incorrect, citing the bankruptcy process in India, which imposes a freeze on any plane repossession by lessors. Therefore, according to Go First's counsel, the airline maintains its right over the planes and the engines, emphasizing its critical role in its revival.

At the heart of the disagreement lies an arbitration order issued on March 30 by a Singapore arbitrator, which directed Pratt &amp; Whitney to assist Go First by supplying serviceable spare engines. Go First Airline, citing engine issues, had grounded half of its fleet of 54 Airbus A320neo planes. Pratt &amp; Whitney, however, disputes the enforceability of the arbitration order, further adding to the complexity of the ongoing legal proceedings.

As the legal battle between the two parties unfolds, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive to Go First Airline, asking the airline to submit a comprehensive restructuring and revival plan within the next 30 days.&nbsp;

The plan is expected to encompass crucial aspects of Go First's operations, including the availability of its operational aircraft fleet, the status of required post holders, pilots, essential personnel, and maintenance arrangements. Through these details, the regulatory body aims to assess Go First's preparedness to resume full-scale operations.

 
(With inputs from Reuters)

In a raging legal dispute over the supply of engines, Pratt & Whitney has informed a Delaware court that it currently has no engines available for India's Go First airline, emphasizing that the airline also lacks rights over them.

In a raging legal dispute over the supply of engines, Pratt & Whitney has informed a Delaware court that it currently has no engines available for India's Go First airline, emphasizing that the airline also lacks rights over them. Reuters reports that the two companies are in a fierce battle as Go First seeks to enforce an arbitration order obtained in Singapore against Pratt & Whitney, blaming the US firm for its financial woes and accusing it of failing to deliver engines on time. Pratt & Whitney, however, vehemently denies these claims, considering them to be unsubstantiated. Go First Airline, formerly known as GoAir, has been granted bankruptcy protection in India, with a court-appointed administrator working to revive the struggling airline. This has triggered a bitter confrontation with several of Go First's lessors, who have terminated their lease agreements and are attempting to repossess the planes. During a recent court hearing, Pratt & Whitney's lawyer argued that Go First no longer possesses any rights over the engines following the termination of the leases. The counsel stated, "There are no engines available to be sent to Go First... these leases have been terminated, and they (engines) cannot be sent because Go First has no right to them." Disputing this claim, Go First's counsel argued that Pratt & Whitney's position was incorrect, citing the bankruptcy process in India, which imposes a freeze on any plane repossession by lessors. Therefore, according to Go First's counsel, the airline maintains its right over the planes and the engines, emphasizing its critical role in its revival. At the heart of the disagreement lies an arbitration order issued on March 30 by a Singapore arbitrator, which directed Pratt & Whitney to assist Go First by supplying serviceable spare engines. Go First Airline, citing engine issues, had grounded half of its fleet of 54 Airbus A320neo planes. Pratt & Whitney, however, disputes the enforceability of the arbitration order, further adding to the complexity of the ongoing legal proceedings. As the legal battle between the two parties unfolds, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive to Go First Airline, asking the airline to submit a comprehensive restructuring and revival plan within the next 30 days. The plan is expected to encompass crucial aspects of Go First's operations, including the availability of its operational aircraft fleet, the status of required post holders, pilots, essential personnel, and maintenance arrangements. Through these details, the regulatory body aims to assess Go First's preparedness to resume full-scale operations. (With inputs from Reuters)

Airline vs manufacturer: Go First Airline and Pratt & Whitney's engine saga unfolds in court

India's Go First airline has grounded or cancelled all its flights. The airline is suffering in debt and running low on functional engines. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Will go first be able to fly again?

Two Go First flights—one from Delhi to Mumbai and the other from Srinagar to Mumbai—were diverted to Surat. As the airline provided no explanation for why the flights were diverted or why they were left stranded on the ground in Surat for more than four hours, panic and confusion overcame the passengers. Both flights and their passengers are still stranded in Surat as of the publication of this report.

Two Go First flight passengers left stranded at Surat airport after 5-hour flight delay

India’s budget carrier Go First on Tuesday filed for bankruptcy before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and temporarily suspended flight operations on May 3 and 4 due to a "severe fund crunch".

Chief Executive Kaushik Khona said that flight operations will resume once the NCLT admits the application, PTI news agency reported. More than 5,000 people are employed with Go First.

“It is an unfortunate decision (filing for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings) but it had to be done to protect the interests of the company,” he told PTI.

Go First said it has been forced to file for bankruptcy because of the recurring and persistent issues with the GTF (Geared Turbofan) engines supplied by Pratt &amp; Whitney (P&amp;W).&nbsp;

Khona said they have grounded 28 planes, which is more than half of its fleet, as a result.

Further, the company claimed that P&amp;W failed to repair those engines “and/or provide sufficient spare leased engines as it was required to do pursuant to its obligations under the relevant agreements between them."

Promoters have infused funds worth Rs 32 billion into the airline in the last three years and out of the total amount, Rs 24 billion was injected in the last 24 months. An amount of Rs 2.9 billion was pumped in April this year, the Wadia Group-owned airlines said.

<h2>Gravitas | Will Go First go out of business? Here's why the airline has hit turbulence</h2>

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"This brings the total investment in the airline since its inception to approximately Rs 6.5 billion," the statement said.

Further, Go First said it has received significant support from the government's Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).

"Even this collective and significant support has not been adequate to prevent the enormous damage caused by Pratt &amp; Whitney's defective engines.

The government has been informed about the airline’s decision, Khon said, adding that they will be submitting a detailed report to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

"The grounding of close to 50 per cent of its fleet due to the serial failure of Pratt &amp; Whitney's engines, while incurring 100% of its operational costs has set Go First back by Rs 10,800 crore in lost revenues and additional expenses," it said.

The airline posted its biggest annual loss in fiscal 2022.

The latest development comes after reports that Go First was looking to raise funds and that Wadia Group was in talks to either sell a majority stake or completely exit its shareholding in the airline.

(With inputs from agencies)

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India’s budget carrier Go First on Tuesday filed for bankruptcy before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and temporarily suspended flight operations on May 3 and 4 due to a "severe fund crunch".

India’s budget carrier Go First on Tuesday filed for bankruptcy before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and temporarily suspended flight operations on May 3 and 4 due to a "severe fund crunch". Chief Executive Kaushik Khona said that flight operations will resume once the NCLT admits the application, PTI news agency reported. More than 5,000 people are employed with Go First. “It is an unfortunate decision (filing for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings) but it had to be done to protect the interests of the company,” he told PTI. Go First said it has been forced to file for bankruptcy because of the recurring and persistent issues with the GTF (Geared Turbofan) engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney (P&W). Khona said they have grounded 28 planes, which is more than half of its fleet, as a result. Further, the company claimed that P&W failed to repair those engines “and/or provide sufficient spare leased engines as it was required to do pursuant to its obligations under the relevant agreements between them." Promoters have infused funds worth Rs 32 billion into the airline in the last three years and out of the total amount, Rs 24 billion was injected in the last 24 months. An amount of Rs 2.9 billion was pumped in April this year, the Wadia Group-owned airlines said. Gravitas | Will Go First go out of business? Here's why the airline has hit turbulence "This brings the total investment in the airline since its inception to approximately Rs 6.5 billion," the statement said. Further, Go First said it has received significant support from the government's Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS). "Even this collective and significant support has not been adequate to prevent the enormous damage caused by Pratt & Whitney's defective engines. The government has been informed about the airline’s decision, Khon said, adding that they will be submitting a detailed report to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). "The grounding of close to 50 per cent of its fleet due to the serial failure of Pratt & Whitney's engines, while incurring 100% of its operational costs has set Go First back by Rs 10,800 crore in lost revenues and additional expenses," it said. The airline posted its biggest annual loss in fiscal 2022. The latest development comes after reports that Go First was looking to raise funds and that Wadia Group was in talks to either sell a majority stake or completely exit its shareholding in the airline. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian airline Go First files for bankruptcy, temporarily suspends operations for two days

Will Go First go out of business? The Indian low-cost carrier has run into turbulence following the grounding of half of its fleet. The airline has been forced to cancel flights, also stop flying to certain destinations. What's next? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas | Will Go First go out of business? Here's why the airline has hit turbulence

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