Air safety watchdog extends deadline for IndiGo to replace Pratt & Whitney engines

India’s aviation regulator has given IndiGo more time to replace the Pratt & Whitney engines on its fleet of Airbus A320neo planes which have been linked to in-flight engine shutdowns, a statement released by the watchdog said on Monday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in November said IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, must replace the engines by January 31, after four incidents of in-flight engine shutdowns within a week caused “serious concern”. The DGCA has now given IndiGo until May 31, saying that while the regulator was obliged to set up a tight deadline it was also intended to “spur frenetic action on the part of all stakeholders”. “The airline and the aircraft and the engine manufacturer have made significant efforts towards completion of the task,” it said in the statement, adding that they had submitted a detailed plan to the regulator for procuring the 135 replacement engines still required. IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation is the biggest customer of Airbus’ A320neo jets with more than 400 planes on order. IndiGo and Pratt & Whitney did not respond to a request for comment.<br/>