Tension prevailed at Chennai airport after the wheels of an Air India flight from Delhi failed to open in time when the aircraft tried to land around midnight on Wednesday.
Chennai:
Air India’s Delhi-Chennai flight (AI540) with 143 passengers and crew was scheduled to land at Chennai airport at 12.30 am. When he lowered the aircraft for the touchdown, the pilot realised that wheels had not come out of its slot. The pilot then pulled up the plane and alerted the Air Traffic Control. While hovering above the airport, the pilot and co-pilot tried to rectify the fault, but in vain. The airport officials then began preparations for an emergency landing, deploying the seven fire tenders near the runway. The medical team and security officials were also positioned to deal with the aftermath of an expected emergency landing.
Around 1 am, permission was granted for the landing. But, when the aircraft came close to the runway, the wheels began to function automatically. Sources said the crew were overwhelmed and hugged each other. The passengers, however, were not informed about the crisis and disembarked from the plane as usual, sources added.
Although airport authorities prepared an emergency landing, the equipment functioned normally when the pilot tried to land after sometime.
Air India’s Delhi-Chennai flight (AI540) with 143 passengers and crew was scheduled to land at Chennai airport at 12.30 am. When he lowered the aircraft for the touchdown, the pilot realised that wheels had not come out of its slot. The pilot then pulled up the plane and alerted the Air Traffic Control. While hovering above the airport, the pilot and co-pilot tried to rectify the fault, but in vain. The airport officials then began preparations for an emergency landing, deploying the seven fire tenders near the runway. The medical team and security officials were also positioned to deal with the aftermath of an expected emergency landing.
Around 1 am, permission was granted for the landing. But, when the aircraft came close to the runway, the wheels began to function automatically. Sources said the crew were overwhelmed and hugged each other. The passengers, however, were not informed about the crisis and disembarked from the plane as usual, sources added.