An Air India Express flight, which took off for UAE’s Sharjah from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli airport averted a major disaster on Friday evening after it experienced a technical snag moments after takeoff.

Air India Express flight IX613 with 141 passengers onboard made a safe landing at the Trichy airport after circling the airspace for at least two hours.

Read More: AI Express Sharjah-Bound Flight Faces Landing Gear Issue; Circles Over Trichy For 2 Hours Before Landing Safely

What Happened?

The Boeing 737 aircraft took off from Tiruchirappalli airport for Sharjah at 5:40 pm on Friday. But just moments after the takeoff, the aircraft witnessed hydraulic failure as the bottom wheel of the plane did not go in after takeoff.

In aircrafts, the hydraulic failure happens when the system that uses pressurised fluid to control important parts, like the landing gear, brakes, and flaps, stops working properly.

According to Trichy airport director Gopalakrishnan, the pilot alerted the air station about the hydraulic failure.

The plane was asked to turn back but it was not advisable to attempt a precautionary landing with full fuel on board. The pilots then circled over Trichy and remained airborne for around two hours to burn off fuel before attempting landing.

According to flight tracking website FlightRadar, the flight was in the same general area for about two hours. The airport director had said that the airport was put on alert and over 20 ambulances and fire tenders were arranged on standby to mitigate a major accident.

Additionally, fuel dumping was being considered to make the plane lighter. However, it was not opted for as the plane was circling over residential areas.

Meanwhile, some flights scheduled to land in Trichy diverted to Madurai and Coimbatore airports.

The flight was granted permission for a belly landing, which is when a plane lands without using its landing gear, but the pilots chose to make a normal landing. Finally, a little after 8 pm, the aircraft landed to cheers and clapping from passengers.

Read More: Wheel Stuck Outside In Sharjah-Bound Flight Days After DGCA Flagged Rudder System Issues In Boeing 737

Civil Aviation Ministry, DGCA Monitor Situation

The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the flight was landed normally.

“The Air India Express Flight IX 613 from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah has landed safely at Tiruchirapalli airport. DGCA was monitoring the situation. The landing gear was opening. The flight has landed normally. The airport was put on alert mode,” the ministry said.

“The pilot remained in constant communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC), which had advised a belly landing, but the plane touched down without any issues. An internal investigation has been launched into the incident, and the aviation regulatory body, DGCA, has been informed,” it said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin commended the Captain and crew of the Air India Express flight for the safe landing.

“I am heartened to hear that the Air India Express flight has landed safely. Upon receiving news of the landing gear issue, I immediately coordinated an emergency meeting with officials over the phone and instructed them to implement all necessary safety measures, including deploying fire engines, ambulances, and medical assistance,” the Chief Minister tweeted.

“I have also now directed the District Collector to ensure the continued safety of all the passengers and to provide further assistance,” he added.

The ministry of civil aviation said the DGCA has been informed and is monitoring the situation. An internal investigation has been launched into the incident, it said.

Air India Express Responds

The airline responded to the incident and clarified that no emergency was declared by the operating crew on the flight. It further said that an alternative aircraft is being arranged for the onward journey of the passengers.

“We are aware of media reports related to an Air India Express flight operating on the Tiruchirappalli – Sharjah route. We would like to clarify that no emergency was declared by the operating crew. 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. 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”, Air India Express spokesperson said.