A Kozhikode-bound Air India Express flight, carrying 160 passengers, made a precautionary landing at Cochin International Airport on Thursday morning after reports of suspected damage to the aircraft’s tyres. The flight, identified as IX 398, was en route from Jeddah to Kozhikode when the crew alerted ground control about a possible tyre-related issue.
According to an Air India Express spokesperson, the aircraft diverted to Kochi after detecting the suspected damage. “The precautionary landing was due to a tyre issue primarily caused by a foreign object on the runway at Jeddah airport,” the spokesperson explained.
Importantly, the official confirmed that only the tyres were affected and clarified that there was no issue with the landing gear itself. “It was not an emergency landing. The decision to divert stemmed from safety protocols, especially considering Kozhikode’s Karipur airport is a tabletop airport,” the spokesperson added.
On landing, the aircraft touched down safely at Koichi Airport, with all passengers reported to be unharmed. The airline expressed regret over the inconvenience caused but emphasized that passenger safety is their top priority. “All guests are being connected to Kozhikode through road transportation arrangements,” the Air India Express representative noted.
In an earlier statement, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) confirmed that it facilitated the safe landing of the aircraft at 9:07 AM. The spokesperson revealed that emergency services activated promptly in response to the technical complication involving the right main landing gear and tyre failure.
CIAL officials stated, “All emergency services were fully prepared, and thankfully, there were no injuries among passengers or crew. Post-landing inspections revealed that the right-side tyres had burst.” Subsequently, the airport authority conducted thorough inspections of the runway and released it for normal operations once it was deemed safe.
This incident highlights the critical importance of adhering to safety protocols in aviation. Airlines must prioritize passenger welfare above all else, reacting swiftly to any potential mechanical complications. Though it represents a minor hiccup in the day-to-day operations of Air India Express, the effective handling of the situation ensures that passengers always return to the ground safely.
