Air India flight, flying from Trichy to Dubai, with 133 passengers on board hit the ATC compound wall at Trichy Airport on Thursday and had to be diverted to Mumbai Airport. According to news agency ANI, the aircraft suffered damages under the belly, however, it was later declared fit for operations following an inspection at Mumbai Airport.
Meanwhile, an internal inquiry has been set up following the incident, and the pilot and the co-pilot have been derostered till the probe is pending. In a statement, the Air India Express said that the airline had informed the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, about the incident. “All passengers were landed safely at Mumbai airport and another aircraft from Mumbai to Dubai was arranged,” the statement further read.
The engineering team is assessing the damages, they said, adding that a ferry flight was sent from Kochi to fly the passengers stranded in Mumbai to their destination.
The aircraft's wheels had hit the wall, officials said. It is not known whether a technical snag or pilot error led to the incident, the officials added.
"Flight IX-611 took off from Trichy for Dubai around 1.30 am on Friday. It was reported by Trichy airport officials that they have observed that the aircraft might have come in contact with the airport perimeter wall.
"The matter was conveyed to the pilot in command. The pilot in command reported that the aircraft systems were operating normally," it said.
Officials said the plane's wheels had hit the wall.
It was decided to divert the aircraft to Mumbai as a precautionary measure, the airline said.
"The flight diverted to Mumbai, landed safely around 5.35 am in Mumbai, and taxied on its own power to the parking stand," it said.
"The 130 passengers and six crew members on-board the aircraft were alighted safely. No one suffered any injuries," according to the Air India Express statement.
It said a relief aircraft and a fresh crew was arranged to continue the flight from Mumbai to Dubai.
The pilots of the aircraft have been "derostered" pending investigation, Air India Express said in a statement.
"The pilot in command, Captain D Ganesh Babu, has a flying experience on the B737 aircraft of 3,600 hours, including about 500 hours as commander.
"The First Officer, Captain Anurag, has an experience of about 3,000 hours on the B737. The two pilots have been derostered pending investigation," it said.
The matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the airline is cooperating in the investigation, the statement said.
Tamil Nadu Minister Vellamandi Natrajan visited the spot and inspected the damages to the wall at the airport, adjacent to a state highway.
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said that the DGCA officers are at the site for preliminary inquiry and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau officers have also been deputed to probe the incident.
Taking to Twitter, Prabhu said, "Air India has constituted a Sub-Committee of the Board headed by an Independent Director of the Board for looking at all safety related issues within the organisation including subsidiaries."
Officials said DGCA is probing the matter and the damage to the aircraft's belly, including the wheels, is being assessed.
Watch: Dubai-bound Air India flight hits wall at Trichy Airport
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