Tamil Nadu: Sharjah-bound AI Express flight hovers around Trichy airport for more than 2 hours after technical glitch, lands safely

Tiruchirapalli (Tamil Nadu): A Sharjah-bound Air India Express flight had to make a 'safe landing' at Tiruchirapalli International Airport on Friday night after a hydraulic failure, triggering anxious moments for over two hours.

Airport sources said the flight, AXB 613, with 144 passengers and six crew members on board had to return back to Tiruchirapalli, few minutes after take-off at 0540 PM from the airport, after the pilots detected a technical glitch, forcing the aircraft to hover around Tiruchirapalli airspace for more than two hours to drain the fuel in order to make a smooth landing.

The airport authorities and district administration made emergency preparations for the safe landing of the flight.

Several ambulances and fire tenders were kept on standby.

The pilots successfully landed the airport runway exactly at 0814 PM, much to the relief of the airport authorities and the security agencies.

All passengers onboard of the flight are safe, officials said.

The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe into the incident.

Earlier, the pilot requested the Air Traffic Control (ATC) for a precautionary landing, after noticing the hydraulic failure due to which the landing gear could not be retracted.

The Boeing 737 (VT-AYB) flight was asked to return back to the airport, but since it is not advisable to attempt a landing with full fuel on board, the pilots hovered around the Tiruchirapalli airspace for two hours burning some fuel, the sources added.

The airport authorities said ‘it was a precautionary landing due to the suspected technical glitch. No emergency was declared by the operating crew, as reported in the media,’ they clarified.

An alternative flight is being arranged for the onward journey of the passengers to Sharjah.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, in a post on ‘X’ (formerly twitter) said ‘I am heartened to hear that the Air India Express flight has landed safely.' 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.

I have also now directed the District Collector to ensure the continued safety of all the passengers and to provide further assistance.

My compliments to the Captain and crew for the safe landing, he added.