Air India Express horror flight: Aviation disaster, check shocking photos of jet

The plane, with 136 passengers and crew members on-board, continued for Dubai and was eventually diverted to Mumbai after Trichy airport officials reported to the pilots that the aircraft might have come in contact with a wall. Nobody was hurt in the incident and the aircraft landed in Mumbai at 5:35 am after being in flight for four hours, officials said. Image source: IANS  

The pilots of the aircraft have been "derostered" pending investigation, Air India Express statement said, adding "Flight IX-611 took off from Trichy for Dubai around 1.30 am Friday. It was reported by Trichy airport officials that they have observed that the aircraft might have come in contact with the airport perimeter wall." "The matter was conveyed to the pilot in command. The pilot in command reported that the aircraft systems were operating normally," it said. Image source: IANS  

Tiruchirappally Airport Director K Gunasekaran said Central Industrial Security Force personnel on duty had informed the air traffic control about the incident, following which the air traffic controller (ATC) informed the pilots about it. "Soon after the incident, the pilots were informed by the ATC. The pilots reported all operations normal. So we allowed them (to proceed)," he said. Image source: IANS  

The airline said it was decided to divert the aircraft to Mumbai as a precautionary measure, adding "The flight diverted to Mumbai, landed safely around 5.35 am in Mumbai, and taxied on its own power to the parking stand." "The 130 passengers and six crew members on-board the aircraft were alighted safely. No one suffered any injuries," the Air India Express statement, adding that a relief aircraft and a fresh crew was arranged to continue the flight from Mumbai to Dubai. Image source: IANS  

"The pilot in command, Captain D Ganesh Babu, has a flying experience on the B737 aircraft of 3,600 hours, including about 500 hours as commander. "The First Officer, Captain Anurag, has an experience of about 3,000 hours on the B737. The two pilots have been derostered pending investigation," it said. Image source: IANS  

The Air India statement further said that the matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the airline is cooperating in the investigation. Image source: IANS  

Officials said DGCA is probing the matter and the damage to the aircraft's belly, including the wheels, is being assessed. In the incident, an Instrument Landing System (ILS), besides the VHF antenna on the aircraft was damaged, Trichy airport director Gunasekaran told media persons. Image source: IANS  

Flight operations were not affected at the Trichy airport nor were there any delays, Gunasekaran said, adding "We have noticed damage to one run way light, ILS antenna, a monitor control unit and small portion of the wall." Image source: IANS  

Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said on twitter, "Air India has constituted a Sub-Committee of the Board headed by an Independent Director of the Board for looking at all safety related issues within the organisation including subsidiaries." Tamil Nadu Minister Vellamandi Natrajan also visited the spot and inspected the damages to the wall, adjacent to a state highway. Image source: IANS