Mumbai, July 21: An Air India flight arriving from Kochi veered off the runway while landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amid heavy rainfall on Monday morning, prompting temporary suspension of operations on the main runway. All passengers and crew were reported safe.
The incident occurred at 9:27 a.m. when flight AI2744, a Kochi-Mumbai service, touched down during intense rain and suffered a “runway excursion,” according to a statement by the airline. Airport officials said the aircraft exited the landing strip and sustained minor damage.
“There are minor damages reported to the airport’s primary runway – 09/27. To maintain operations, the secondary runway – 14/32 – was activated,” the Mumbai airport authority said in a statement.
Sources familiar with the matter said three tyres of the aircraft burst and one of its engines was damaged after sucking in mud during the excursion. “The engine sucked up a bunch of dirt after getting into the mud,” a source said.
Despite the mishap, the aircraft taxied to the gate safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked without injury. “The aircraft has been grounded for detailed checks,” said an Air India spokesperson.
Emergency response teams were deployed immediately after the incident, and the affected runway was temporarily closed. Normal operations resumed later in the day.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, one of India’s busiest, operates with two runways. The swift activation of the secondary runway helped ensure minimal disruption to scheduled flights.
An internal inquiry has been initiated, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to conduct a full investigation into the runway excursion and technical condition of the aircraft.
