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The Boeing 737, carrying 141 passengers, is reported to be safe. (PTI file photo)
The Department of Civil Aviation confirmed that the plane “landed normally” and that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was monitoring the situation.
An Air India Express flight to Sharjah, which circled in the air for over two hours, landed safely at the Tiruchirapalli airport on Friday after encountering a technical problem shortly after take-off.
Shortly after takeoff at around 5:30 pm, a fault related to the hydraulic system and landing gear was discovered. The pilots brought the situation under control and landed the plane safely at Tiruchirappalli airport.
The Department of Civil Aviation confirmed that the plane “landed normally” and that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was monitoring the situation. The Boeing 737, carrying 141 passengers, is reported to be safe.
“Air India Express Flight IX 613 from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah has landed safely at Tiruchirapalli Airport. The DGCA was monitoring the situation. The landing gear was opening. The plane landed normally. The airport has been put on alert,” said the department.
Before landing, visuals from outside the airport showed that emergency response efforts were in place, with 20 ambulances and fire services waiting at Tiruchirapalli airport.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: An Air India flight from Trichy to Sharjah faced a technical problem (Hydraulic failure) and circled in the airspace to refuel before landing at Trichy airport. More than 20 ambulances and fire tenders have been deployed at the airport to ensure that no major… pic.twitter.com/rEiF6mSZz2— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2024
The plane was initially given permission to land on the belly. However, the plane successfully landed normally and safely without any problems.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin held an emergency meeting with officials and directed them to follow all safety measures.
In the post at X after the successful landing, he congratulated the captain of the plane and the crew. “I am happy to hear that the #AirIndiaExpress flight has arrived safely. “When I received news of the landing gear issue, I immediately called an emergency meeting with officials by phone and ordered them to use all necessary safety measures, including sending fire engines, ambulances, and medical aid,” Stalin wrote.
I’m glad to hear that #AirIndiaExpress the plane landed safely. When I received news of the landing gear issue, I immediately coordinated an emergency meeting with officials by phone and ordered them to use all necessary precautions, including… — MKStalin (@mkstalin) October 11, 2024
“I have also instructed the District Collector to ensure the safety of all passengers and provide other assistance. I commend the Captain and the crew for arriving safely,” he added.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Air India Express commented on this incident, saying that another flight is being planned for the passengers to continue.
“We are aware of media reports related to Air India Express flight operating on Tiruchirappalli – Sharjah route. We would like to clarify that no state of emergency has been declared by the task force. After reporting a technical glitch, the plane circled the designated area several times as a precautionary measure, reducing fuel and weight considering the length of the runway, before landing safely. The cause of this tragedy will be investigated. At the moment, another flight is being planned for our guests,” said the spokesman.