Indian budget airline Go First files for bankruptcy

Indian budget airline Go First has filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming "faulty" engines from US aerospace company Pratt & Whitney for the grounding of about half its fleet. Go First was India's fifth-biggest domestic carrier as of March, with 6.9 percent of the market share.

Its bankruptcy was a necessary step due to the "ever-increasing number of failing engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney's International Aero Engines", which had led to the grounding of 25 aircraft, Go First said in a statement.

It went on to accuse Pratt & Whitney of failing to comply with an arbitration order directing it to release spare leased engines. The engine-maker said that it was complying with the arbitration ruling and was continuing "to prioritize delivery schedules for all customers".