Mumbai: Air India hostess falls off aircraft, suffers serious injuries

MUMBAI: An Air India flight attendant was injured after she fell from a Boeing 777 aircraft while opening its door on Monday morning. The aircraft was parked in the apron area of the Mumbai airport.The flight attendant, Harsha Lobo , is conscious but has sustained severe injuries, said a source.The B777 aircraft door is about 30 feet above ground.Air India Mumbai flight AI-864 was scheduled to depart for Delhi at 7am. "During pre-boarding, she went to open the L5 door of the Boeing 777 to allow the step ladder to align with the door. There was a gap and in the process of opening the door, she slipped and and fell onto the tarmac," said a source.An Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident. "The cabin crew is conscious. She fell while closing the door of B777 ER at 6.10am. She has been admitted to the Nanavati hospital. The matter is under investigation," the spokesperson said.The flight took off at 8.30am and landed at 10.09am.Nanavati hospital said that the cabin crew member was brought at 7am. "The patient is suffering from right leg compound fracture, fracture in both heels and soft tissue injury in chest, abdomen and lower spine. She also suffered from a sprain in the neck (cervical spine)," said Dr. Rajendra Patankar, COO, Nanavati.