Air India Flight Encounters Hydraulic Failure, Lands Safely in Trichy

An Air India flight from Tamil Nadu’s Trichy to Sharjah faced a technical issue on Thursday when it experienced a hydraulic system failure mid-air, necessitating an emergency landing back at Trichy airport. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency.

The aircraft, identified as flight IX613, was carrying 140 passengers. After spending over an hour in the air to burn off excess fuel, it successfully landed at Trichy airport. “The plane has landed safely,” confirmed Gopalakrishnan, the airport director, noting that the aircraft had been circling the area to reduce fuel for a safe landing.

As a precautionary measure, over 20 ambulances and fire tenders were dispatched to the airport to handle any potential emergencies. The hydraulic system is essential for operating critical aircraft components like the landing gear, flaps, brakes, and steering. Without it, controlling the aircraft becomes challenging, which can jeopardize the safety of both flight and landing.

The aircraft had initially considered a fuel dump to lighten the load; however, this option was deemed unsuitable due to the proximity of a residential area. Consequently, the flight underwent what is known as a belly landing, a process where the aircraft lands without fully deploying its landing gear. The district collector reassured that all necessary safety measures were in place, stating, “Ambulances and rescue teams were kept on standby as a precautionary measure.”