Air India Express flight's tyres burst; pilot declares 'full emergency'

An Air India Express flight traveling from Jeddah to Calicut, carrying 160 passengers and crew, was forced to make an emergency landing at Kochi airport on Thursday morning. Flight IX 398 was diverted following a technical snag and touched down safely at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) at 09:07 AM. The landing was conducted under "Full Emergency" conditions, with all emergency response units, including fire and rescue teams, positioned along the runway as a precaution.

Upon landing, a technical inspection revealed that both tyres on the right-side landing gear had burst. Airline officials suspect that the damage might have been caused by a foreign object on the runway at Jeddah airport during takeoff. Despite the mechanical failure and the intensity of the emergency landing, no injuries were reported among the passengers or the flight crew, and the aircraft was safely taxied off the runway.

Following the inspection, the runway was cleared of debris and reopened for normal operations shortly after. Air India Express initiated a baggage reconciliation process for all guests on board. To complete their journey, the airline arranged for the passengers to be transported to their original destination, Calicut, by road. The airline issued a statement regretting the inconvenience while emphasizing that safety remains their top priority.

CIAL authorities praised the swift and professional coordination of the emergency teams which ensured a safe outcome for the high-risk landing. The airport spokesperson reiterated their commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards. This incident marks another successful emergency management operation at one of India’s busiest international airports.