An Air India flight narrowly avoided disaster after skidding off the runway at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The incident occurred when three of the aircraft's tyres burst during landing, forcing the plane to veer off course.
Emergency services were immediately deployed as the Airbus A320 came to a halt on the grass beside the runway. Despite the dramatic scene, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated with no reported injuries.
Chaotic Scenes at Mumbai Airport
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the aircraft, operating as flight AI-619 from Jaipur, made its troubled landing. "We felt a series of violent bumps before the plane swerved," one shaken passenger told reporters.
Airport authorities confirmed that the main runway was temporarily closed while recovery operations took place, causing significant delays to other flights. Specialised equipment was brought in to carefully move the disabled aircraft.
Investigation Underway
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched an investigation into the incident. Preliminary reports suggest possible landing gear malfunction combined with wet runway conditions may have contributed to the accident.
"Safety is our utmost priority," an Air India spokesperson stated. "We are cooperating fully with authorities to determine the exact cause and prevent future occurrences."
The incident marks the latest in a series of aviation scares in India this year, raising questions about maintenance standards and operational procedures in the country's rapidly expanding aviation sector.
