Tiruchi-Sharjah flight returns to Tiruchirappalli airport after facing mid-air glitch shortly after take-off

The Air India Express Boeing 737 NG aircraft started circling the airport minutes after it took off as the pilots were trying to dump the fuel before returning to the airport. It finally landed back safely at 8.30 p.m.

An Air India Express Boeing 737 NG aircraft operating a flight from Tiruchi to Sharjah circled over the Tiruchirappalli International airport for nearly three hours before making a safe return as the landing gear couldn’t be retracted after take off.

The DGCA is investigating the incident, a senior official said.

The landing gear is a set of wheels and other parts that support a plane when it is on the ground and make it possible to take off and land. The landing gear has to be retracted after take-off to improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft and reduce drag, but on Friday’s (October 11, 2024) flight the landing gear couldn’t be drawn back.

An extended landing gear increases drag, resulting in a 150% fuel burn for an aircraft like the Boeing 737. This means a flight would not be able to complete its journey, and have to be diverted.

Flight IX 613 took off from Tiruchi at 5.40 p.m. on Friday (October 11, 2024) and started circling the airport minutes later as the pilots were trying to burn fuel before returning to the airport. It finally landed back safely at 8.30 p.m.

“Aircraft made a normal landing and all passengers are safe,” Airport Director G. Gopalakrishnan told The Hindu

“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,” a spokesperson of Air India Express said.

Safety remains our highest priority: Civil Aviation Minister

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naiduin an X post said: “Air India Express flight AXB- 613 has safely landed at Trichy Airport following a hydraulic failure. The crew and emergency ground teams acted swiftly to ensure the safety of all 141 passengers on board.”

He added that Air India Express had been advised to make necessary arrangements for the passengers’ onward travel. “Safety remains our highest priority in every operation.”

Safety aviation expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan said, “It seems that either the engineer or the pilot didn’t conduct a walkaround before the take-off, and they forgot to remove the landing gear pin. That could be the reason why pilots had to circle the airport and reduce the weight of the aircraft to less than maximum landing weight. Otherwise, if it was just an issue of extended landing gear the pilots could have done an overweight landing.”

Pins are inserted into the nose and main landing gear when the aircraft is on the ground to prevent inadvertent gear retraction during maintenance or towing and must be removed before a take off.

Published - October 11, 2024 08:33 pm IST