TRICHY- Tata Group-owned Air India Express (IX) flight IX613 destined for Sharjah (SHJ) executed an emergency landing at Tiruchirappalli Airport (TRZ) due to a technical malfunction detected by the pilot shortly after takeoff.
Flight IX613 declared a mid-air emergency on Friday evening, citing a hydraulic system failure, a critical component responsible for controlling essential functions such as landing gear, brakes, and flaps.
Air India Express Flight Hydraulic Failure
The pilot alerted Trichy airport authorities about the issue, prompting the declaration of a full emergency. The aircraft has been circling in Trichy airspace for over two hours, a maneuver to burn off excess fuel before attempting a safe landing.
Trichy airport’s director confirmed that the pilot had communicated the hydraulic failure to ground control, as reported by India Today. Local authorities have reassured the public that there is no immediate cause for alarm.
The District Collector stated, “It is currently circling the airspace to empty the fuel. As a precautionary measure, we have kept ambulances and rescue teams on standby,” according to India Today.
According to Flight Radar 24 data, the flight bound for Sharjah took off from Tiruchirappalli at 12:13 PM UTC and immediately after takeoff experienced a hydraulic failure. It was expected to land in Sharjah at 8:30 PM local time.
After burning extra fuel, the flight landed safely back at Tiruchirappalli at around 2:46 PM UTC (8:16 PM IST). The flight remained airborne for more than two hours.
The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 737-800, registered as VT-AYB. Further, it is a 15-year and three-month-old aircraft, powered by CFM engines.
Similar Incident
Last year in May, an Air India (AI) flight encountered a similar hydraulic failure during its journey from Bengaluru (BLR) to Mumbai (BOM). The incident involved flight AI610, a route typically serviced by Air India’s Airbus A321s due to high passenger demand.
Flight Radar 24 data shows the aircraft departed Bengaluru Airport (BLR) at 7:20 PM. The pilot detected the hydraulic system failure mid-flight and immediately implemented the necessary operational procedures. He promptly alerted the Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower about the situation, leading to an expected ten-minute delay at the airport.
Despite the technical issue, the plane landed safely at Mumbai Airport (BOM) at approximately 8:45 PM, ahead of its scheduled 9:20 PM arrival time. The aircraft was given priority landing status due to the reported hydraulic problem.
The aircraft involved in this incident is an Airbus A321-211 with the registration VT-PPW. Planespotters.net, a fleet tracking and image website, reports that this particular plane is 13 years old, having been delivered to Air India in January 2010.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
