Tiruchi-Sharjah flight mid-air panic: Passengers told about damage only 30 minutes before landing

Passengers at the Tiruchi airport after an Air India Express flight landed safely following a mid-air accident on October 11, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI

The passengers on board the Air India Express flight were unaware of the technical problem almost two hours after the flight took off from the Tiruchi airport.

“There were only 30 minutes left before the plane arrived at the emergency stop where the passengers were told about a technical error”, said A. Shahul Hameed who had flown to Sharjah.

The passengers were worried and some of them became tense when the information was transmitted to the boat about two hours from departure, said Mr. Hameed told A Hindu by phone after the plane landed safely in Tiruchi.

Mr. Hameed, a resident of Tiruchi and working as a building maintenance officer in Sharjah, said it was the first time he had come across such an incident.

Concerned relatives of the passengers rushed to the airport when they heard the news about the panic in the air.

“We came to know about the emergency after watching the news on TV channels”, said Abu Dahir from Tiruchi whose close relative Sithara Banu was on the plane.

Ms. Banu from Musiri near Tiruchi was seen by her parents leaving the airport, saying that she rushed to the airport to get information.

The passengers were relieved when it became clear that the plane landed safely, said Mr. Hameed. Some of the relatives tried to call the passengers to know about the situation and ask about their condition.

Govindarajan, Airport Director, Tiruchi, said A Hindu that the flight took off at around 5.40 pm At around 6.05 pm the pilot contacted the Air Traffic Control tower about a technical problem due to a hydraulic failure. The pilot kept flying as he had to refuel and save a little fuel to get to the emergency stop.

Information about comprehensive emergency accommodation was presented to all stakeholders including district administration and city police.

Fire tenders and ambulances are dispatched to the airport as per standard operating procedures, said Mr. Govindarajan.

The pilot conveyed to the airport that he was arriving for a “normal” landing. The plane landed normally at around 8.15pm and all passengers were safe, said Mr. Govindarajan.

The State Department of Health has assembled a team of doctors and ambulance ships including private ones. About 25 ambulances have been stationed outside the airport to deal with any situation, said Kumaravel, Dean, KAPV Government Medical College Hospital, Tiruchi. Four of the passengers were children, he added.

Another flight is scheduled by the airline for the morning of Saturday (October 12, 2024) for the passengers to continue their journey.

Mr. Govindarajan said a senior official of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation from Chennai will come to Tiruchi airport to inquire about the incident.