Kochi: A Sharjah-bound Air India Express flight took off from Tiruchirappalli airport on Friday and landed safely at the port of departure in the evening, after around two dramatic hours.
As reports of Flight IX613 hovering over Trichy airspace for more than an hour spread through the media, family triggering panic and family and friends of passengers and crew.
A mid-air technical issue had developed, prompting the aircraft to circle over the airport before making a precautionary landing.
“The Air India Express Flight IX 613 from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah has landed safely at Tiruchirapalli airport. DGCA was monitoring the situation. The landing gear was opening. The flight has landed normally. The airport was put on alert mode,” the Civil Aviation ministry said in a statement.
Responding to earlier reports of an emergency situation, an Air India Express spokesperson issued a clarification.
“We are aware of media reports related to an Air India Express flight operating on the Tiruchirappalli-Sharjah route. We would like to clarify that no emergency was declared by the operating crew,” the spokesperson said.
He further explained that the aircraft circled the airspace as a precaution to reduce fuel and weight before landing, due to runway length considerations.
“After reporting a technical snag, the aircraft circled multiple times in the designated area as an abundant precaution before making a safe precautionary landing. The cause of the snag will be duly investigated. In the interim, an alternative aircraft is being arranged for the onward journey of our guests.”
According to India Today, the Trichy airport director said that the pilot had alerted ground control about a hydraulic failure.
Around 20 ambulances and fire tenders were kept on standby at the airport as a safety measure.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin heaved a sigh of relief after the aircraft landed safely.
“I am heartened to hear that the #AirIndiaExpress 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,” Stalin wrote on X.
