Tension gripped Trichy International Airport on Monday evening when a Dubai-bound Air India Express flight was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff due to a technical malfunction.
Flight Delay and Mid-Air Crisis
The aircraft, operating as flight IXO61, was originally scheduled to depart from Trichy at 12.45 pm. However, passengers faced a significant delay, and the plane finally took off at 1.55 pm with approximately 160 people on board. The relief was short-lived, as the flight crew soon detected a technical issue with the aircraft.
Fuel Dumping and Safe Return
To ensure a safe landing, the Boeing 738 aircraft spent nearly two hours circling the airspace over Trichy and neighbouring Pudukottai district. This manoeuvre was necessary to dump excess fuel and reduce weight before attempting an emergency landing. The plane finally touched down safely back at Trichy airport at 3.53 pm.
Anxious Wait and Alternative Arrangements
The incident caused considerable anxiety among the passengers' families. Relatives and friends tracking the flight's progress online via flight tracking platforms were confused when they saw the aircraft had not progressed towards Dubai. The normal flight duration for this route is about four hours and 45 minutes.
Some passengers onboard, who are relatives of former Nagapattinam MLA Thamimum Ansari, managed to inform him about the aircraft circling due to the technical problem. Airport authorities confirmed that alternative arrangements were being made to transport the affected passengers to their destination in Dubai.
