Sharjah-bound Air India Express flight with 150 onboard safely lands in Trichy after reporting…

An Air India Express flight made an emergency landing at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) airport in Tamil Nadu on Friday evening after developing a technical problem mid-flight. The aircraft, which had 140 passengers on board, had taken off from Trichy airport at 5:43 PM, headed for Sharjah. However, shortly after departure, the pilot reported a technical snag, specifically a hydraulic failure, and circled over the Trichy airspace for some time before safely landing.

Hydraulic System Issue
According to the Trichy airport director, the pilot informed the air traffic control about the hydraulic failure. This system is crucial for controlling important parts of the plane, such as the landing gear, brakes, and wing flaps. A failure in this system could pose a risk during landing, as these components are essential for a safe descent and stop.

The airport authorities immediately prepared for the possibility of a belly landing, which means the plane would land without its landing gear. Fortunately, the plane’s landing gear eventually deployed successfully, allowing for a normal landing.

Precautionary Measures
Initially, the authorities considered fuel dumping to make the plane lighter before landing. However, this step was avoided since the plane was flying over residential areas, which could have posed risks to people on the ground. As a precaution, rescue teams, fire engines, and ambulances were placed on standby at the airport in case of an emergency.

Safe Landing and Applause
The flight safely touched down on the runway, and videos from the airport showed passengers and onlookers cheering as the aircraft landed. The Ministry of Civil Aviation later confirmed in a statement that the flight had landed normally and that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had been closely monitoring the situation.

Appreciation from the Chief Minister
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin praised the flight’s Captain and crew for safely handling the situation. He said that upon receiving the news about the landing gear issue, he had coordinated with officials to ensure the safety of the passengers, instructing them to deploy all necessary emergency measures. He also directed the District Collector to provide further assistance to the passengers after the landing.

In the end, all passengers were safe, and the airport resumed normal operations following the incident.

An Air India Express spokesperson has given an official statement on incident, stating "Air In“We are aware of media reports related to an Air India Express flight operating on the Tiruchirappalli - Sharjah route. We would like to clarify that no emergency was declared by the operating crew. After reporting a technical snag, the aircraft circled multiple times in the designated area as an abundant precaution, to reduce fuel and weight considering the runway length, before making a safe precautionary landing. The cause of the snag will be duly investigated. In the interim, an alternative aircraft is being arranged for the onward journey of our guests."

 

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