In a tense mid-air situation, an Air India Express flight bound for Sharjah faced hydraulic failure shortly after taking off from Trichy Airport on Friday evening. The Boeing 737 aircraft, carrying 141 passengers, was forced to circle over the city for nearly two hours to burn off fuel before making a safe landing.
The flight, which took off at 5:45 pm, safely touched down at 8:15 pm after the crew reported an issue with the landing gear. The emergency prompted authorities at Trichy airport to go into alert mode, with over a dozen ambulances and fire tenders deployed in preparation for a potential belly landing. Foam was sprayed on the runway to prevent any fire hazard during landing.
Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, commended the crew and emergency ground teams for their swift actions, ensuring the safety of all passengers on board. He stated, “Safety remains our highest priority in every operation.”
What Happened Mid-Air?
Shortly after takeoff, the landing gear failed to retract, as reported by Indian Express. Pilots Iqrom Rifadly Fahmi Zainal and Co-pilot Maitryee Shrikrishna Shitole decided to return to Trichy as a precaution. Since the aircraft couldn’t land as usual, the decision was made to dump fuel and reduce the plane’s weight. For over two hours, the plane performed 24 small loops and three large loops above Trichy before preparing for a landing.
Despite receiving clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC) for a belly landing, the wheels managed to deploy in time, allowing the flight to land normally and safely.
Internal Investigation Launched
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) confirmed that although a belly landing had been authorized, the plane successfully touched down without any issues. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) monitored the situation throughout the ordeal and an internal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the technical snag.
An Air India Express spokesperson clarified, “No emergency was declared, and after reporting a technical issue, the aircraft circled to reduce weight before making a precautionary landing. The cause of the snag will be investigated thoroughly.”
Tamil Nadu CM Praises Quick Response
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed relief over the safe landing, acknowledging the captain, crew, and emergency teams for their swift actions. He stated that he had coordinated with officials to ensure all safety measures were in place and has directed the District Collector to provide further assistance to the passengers.
Passengers were later accommodated on an alternative flight to Sharjah, ensuring minimal disruption to their journey.
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