An Air India technician was killed when the ground staff was sucked into an aircraft's engine at Chhatrapati Shivaji domestic airport in Mumbai yesterday.

The incident occurred at bay No. 28 on Terminal-2 around 8:45pm when the co- pilot of the flight misinterpreted a signal and started the engine, reports our Delhi correspondent.

The impact of the accident was such that the body of the victim, identified as Ravi Subramanian, was severed into many pieces.

Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ashwani Lohani said "we are deeply saddened and regret the tragic incident at Mumbai airport this evening when an Air India technician died in a mishap during pushback of flight AI 619. The incident is being investigated. We send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family," he said.

The Director- General of Indian Civil Aviation (DGCA), which regulates the civil aviation sector, has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The state-owned national airline, which is battling huge debts and not reported a profit since 2007, has been often hit by technical glitches, delays and crew turning up late for flights.

In April, Air India removed two pilots from duty after they reportedly fought inside the cockpit just before takeoff from Delhi.

In 2009, pilots and cabin crew came to blows on an Air India flight from the United Arab Emirates to Delhi, with 106 passengers and seven crew on board.