An Air India Express (AIX) flight with 140 people on board developed problems after take-off from the Tiruchirapalli airport on Friday and landed back safely after it burnt off fuel for two-and-a-half anxious hours in a holding pattern over the city.
Officials at the airport prepared for an emergency, with a fleet of ambulances and firefighting vehicles readied, although the airline clarified that no emergency was declared by the pilots of the flight, AIX613 to Sharjah.
“After reporting a technical snag, the aircraft circled multiple times in the designated area as an abundant precaution, to reduce fuel and weight considering the runway length, before making a safe precautionary landing,” said an AIX spokesperson.
“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. We regret the inconvenience and reiterate our commitment to prioritising safety in every aspect of our operations,” the company official added.
Flight tracking websites showed the Boeing 737 jet circling at an altitude of 4,400 feet for close to two-and-a-half hours.
An official aware of the matter, while asking not to be named, said “the pilot found the landing gear was not retracting due to which he decided to land back at Trichy as a precaution”.
A second official, who is with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), added that the snag was detected immediately after the plane took at 5.43pm. “A belly landing (when a plane lands without its landing gear) was suggested. But the landing gear was opening so the flight could land normally. An internal investigation will be conducted,” said this person, asking not to be named.
The aircraft landed at 8.15 pm, this person added.