NEW DELHI: An Air India Express flight carrying 144 passengers landed safely at Tiruchirappalli Airport in Tamil Nadu on Friday evening following a mid-air scare caused by a technical glitch.
The Sharjah-bound flight IX613 took off from Tiruchirappalli at 5.43 pm but soon experienced hydraulic failure, forcing it to turn back, according to local media reports.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft ‘circled multiple times in the designated area’ to reduce fuel and weight before making ‘a safe precautionary landing’ around 8 pm India time, one report said, citing an airline spokesperson.
“Upon receiving news of the landing gear issue, I immediately coordinated an emergency meeting with officials over the phone and instructed them to implement all necessary safety measures, including deploying fire engines, ambulances, and medical assistance,” Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin said in a social media post.
“My compliments to the captain and crew for the safe landing,” he said.
— BERNAMA
