Sharjah-Bound Air India Flight Faces Snag, Lands Safely in Trichy
An Air India Express flight (IX613) bound for Sharjah from Trichy, which was preparing for an emergency belly landing after encountering a technical issue with its landing gear, landed safely in the Tamil Nadu airport. Shortly after take-off from Trichy airport at 5:30 pm, the aircraft’s landing gear failed to retract, leading to a full emergency declaration at the airport.
According to report, the Air India Trichy – Sharjah flight landed safely at Trichy airport, and they quoted sources as saying that the carrier is arranging another flight for passengers on Saturday early morning.
The flight, carrying 144 passengers, had been circling above Trichy Airport for nearly two hours to reduce the risk of fuel combustion during landing. Airport authorities, in coordination with local hospitals, had mobilised 15 ambulances and several fire engines in anticipation of a possible emergency.
A belly landing, where the aircraft touches down without deploying its wheels, is considered a last resort in cases of mechanical failure. The pilots are currently burning off excess fuel before attempting the hazardous manoeuvre.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has ordered all relevant authorities to remain on high alert, with a landing expected around 8:30 pm. Despite the situation, Air India sources express hope that a normal landing may still be possible.
This situation has put emergency services on standby as the flight attempts a safe return to Trichy Airport.
A belly landing is an emergency landing where an aircraft touches down on its underside, or “belly,” without extending its landing gear. This manoeuvre is typically performed when the landing gear fails to deploy or experiences a mechanical malfunction, making it impossible to land the aircraft on its wheels.
While it is a dangerous situation, pilots are trained to execute belly landings by ensuring the aircraft’s descent is as controlled as possible, minimising damage and reducing the risk of fire or injury to passengers. Emergency services are usually on standby to assist after the landing.
