Kochi: An Air India Express flight travelling from Jeddah to Kozhikode made an emergency landing at Kochi International Airport on Thursday morning after the crew detected a technical issue related to the aircraft’s landing gear.
The flight which was scheduled to land at Kozhikode was diverted to Kochi as a precaution after pilots noticed an abnormal indication linked to the landing gear system. Following standard safety procedures the crew declared an emergency and coordinated with air traffic control for a priority landing.
The aircraft landed safely at Kochi airport around 9.07 am under full emergency preparedness. Fire and rescue teams along with medical staff were positioned near the runway as a precautionary measure. All passengers and crew members onboard were reported to be safe and no injuries were recorded.
Initial inspection after landing revealed that tyres on the right side of the main landing gear had burst. Aviation officials said the issue was handled smoothly due to timely decision making by the flight crew and coordinated response from airport authorities.
There were around 160 passengers onboard the aircraft including crew members. Passengers were later deboarded safely and provided assistance at the terminal. Arrangements were initiated to help them continue their journey to Kozhikode.
Airport operations at Kochi were briefly affected during the emergency landing but normal flight movements resumed soon after the aircraft was secured and the runway cleared.
Air India Express stated that passenger safety remains its highest priority and that the aircraft would undergo a detailed technical inspection before being cleared for further operations. Aviation authorities are also expected to review the incident as part of routine safety protocols.