An Air India Express flight carrying 141 individuals successfully executed an emergency landing at Tiruchirappalli airport on Friday evening due to a technical issue encountered mid-flight. The incident involved flight AXB 613, which was traveling from Tiruchirappalli to Sharjah and experienced a hydraulic malfunction shortly after takeoff.
The civil aviation ministry verified that the aircraft landed safely at 8:15 PM after circling for more than two hours to burn off fuel.
Ultimately, it was the pilot, co-pilot, and other crew members who played a crucial role in ensuring that the Sharjah-bound Air India Express flight with 141 passengers landed safely at Tiruchirapalli airport on Friday night.
“The crew adhered to all safety protocols, prioritizing the well-being of each passenger during the emergency,” stated Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu.
After the emergency landing, pilot Iqrom Rifadly Fahmi Zainal and co-pilot Maitryee Shrikrishna Shitole were seen leaving Tiruchirapalli airport. The flight, which encountered technical difficulties mid-air, circled the airspace for at least two hours when the pilots realized that the landing gear had not retracted.
It was the pilots’ quick thinking that led them to contact Tiruchirapalli’s air traffic control (ATC) and decide to return to the airport. They received approval for a belly landing, but after circling the airspace for two hours to minimize fuel as a precaution, they managed to execute a normal landing without any issues.
According to initial reports and sources, the pilots adhered to the standard operating procedure (SOP) in such situations by circling to lower the fuel to a safe level and accomplish a normal landing. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced plans to conduct a detailed investigation of the Boeing 737 aircraft that experienced a hydraulic failure to determine the cause of the malfunction.
Naidu mentioned that the airport and emergency teams acted swiftly and efficiently after a full emergency was declared at 6:05 PM. The flight successfully landed at 8:15 PM. “The DGCA has been directed to carry out a comprehensive investigation of the aircraft to pinpoint the exact cause of the hydraulic problem. In the meantime, Air India Express has been instructed to offer all necessary support to the passengers, which includes alternative arrangements for their onward travel,” he stated.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also praised the pilots and crew members for their successful landing. “I am pleased to learn that the #AirIndiaExpress flight has landed safely. Upon receiving news of the landing gear issue, I promptly coordinated an emergency meeting with officials via phone and instructed them to implement all necessary safety protocols, including the deployment of fire engines, ambulances, and medical assistance,” he commented.
Air India Express explained that the crew did not declare an emergency, although the aircraft experienced a technical problem with its landing gear. The airline representative guaranteed that a substitute aircraft would be provided for the passengers’ continued journey and conveyed remorse for the disruption caused.
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