An Air India Express flight. ARCHIVE

An Air India Express flight bound for Sharjah successfully made an emergency landing at the Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) airport after experiencing technical difficulties with its landing gear. The aircraft, carrying 140 passengers, circled the airport for over two hours on Friday (October 11) to burn fuel before safely touching down, according to aviation officials. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the flight, IX 613, had departed from Trichy at 5:30pm and was scheduled to land in Sharjah. However, the landing gear failed to open properly, prompting the flight crew to delay the landing until it was safe to do so. The incident was closely monitored by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. “An Air India Express flight from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah has landed safely at Tiruchirapalli airport. DGCA was monitoring the situation closely, and the airport was put on alert mode,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

Safety protocols in place

Gopalakrishnan, an official familiar with the situation, noted that the aircraft circled in the air for more than two hours to burn off fuel as a precautionary measure. "Over 20 ambulances and fire tenders were kept on standby at the airport to ensure safety during the landing,” Gopalakrishnan said. Despite initial reports of a hydraulic failure, an Air India Express spokesperson clarified that no emergency had been 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 before making a safe precautionary landing,” the spokesperson said. The DGCA has since grounded the aircraft and launched an investigation into the cause of the malfunction. “The cause of the snag will be duly investigated,” the spokesperson added, reiterating the airline’s commitment to safety. Following the incident, an alternate aircraft was arranged for passengers to continue their journey to Sharjah. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience but stressed that safety remained their top priority. “We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and reiterate our commitment to prioritizing safety in every aspect of our operations,” according to Air India Express in a statement. ICA/Expat Media
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