Miraculous Landing: Air India Express Flight Lands Safely After 2-Hour Mid Air Scare

New Delhi: Air India Express Flight IX 613 from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah has landed safely at Tiruchirapalli airport, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) confirmed on Friday. “DGCA was monitoring situation. landing gear was opening. flight has landed normally. airport was put on alert mode”, MoCA said in a statement. 

Air India Flight Faces Hydraulic Issue

Due to a hydraulic issue, Air India Express flight IX613 hovered over Trichy, Tamil Nu, for nearly two hours. aircraft, carrying 140 passengers, was redirected to Trichy Airport, where it remained in a holding pattern to burn off excess fuel. 

CM Stalin Congratulates Captain, Crew

"I am heartened to hear that #AirIndiaExpress flight has landed safely. Upon receiving news of landing gear issue, I immediately coordinated an emergency meeting with officials over phone and instructed m to implement all necessary safety measures, including deploying fire engines, ambulances, and medical assistance. I have also now directed District Collector to ensure continued safety of all passengers and to provide furr assistance. My compliments to Captain and crew for safe landing", Stalin tweeted. 

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters Dean of Trichy Government Medical College said, "We have 140 passengers, all are safe. We h prepared everything like ambulances, beds and were on alert mode. flight has landed safely, so we are relieved..."

Tamil Nu Governor RN Ravi lauded captain and co-pilot, saying "Many thanks to captain and co-pilot for safe landing of flight IX613 from Tiruchirappalli to Sharjah after landing gear glitch. courage and calm professionalism of cockpit and cabin crew truly shone during this trying and tense moment..."  

Air India IX613 Flight Declares Mid-Air Emergency | What Exactly Happened

• flight, carrying 141 passengers, took off at 5:30 PM but encountered an issue with its landing gear, which failed to retract, according to sources at Trichy Airport.
• By 8:00 PM, aircraft was still airborne, with protocol dictating that plane circle airspace to burn off excess fuel before attempting to land.
• Shortly after 8:00 PM, flight landed safely without incident.
• An official explained that delay in landing was due to time required to empty fuel because landing gear could not retract properly.
• " Air India Express Flight IX 613 from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah has landed safely at Tiruchirapalli airport. DGCA was monitoring situation. landing gear was opening. flight has landed normally. airport was put on alert mode", said MoCA. 
• Emergency measures were prepared, including deployment of 18 fire engines, in anticipation of a possible belly landing. situation was carefully monitored as crew worked to ensure a safe landing for all passengers and crew on board.  
• IX613 has been holding since shortly after take off from Tiruchirappalli nearly 2 hours ago due to a technical issue.
• Trichy airport director said that pilot h alerted ground control about hydraulic failure. 
• More than 20 ambulances and fire tenders are placed at airport.
• “We are aware of media reports related to an Air India Express flight operating on Tiruchirappalli - Sharjah route. We would like to clarify that no emergency was declared by operating crew. After reporting a technical snag, aircraft circled multiple times in designated area as an abundant precaution, to reduce fuel and weight considering runway length, before making a safe precautionary landing. cause of snag will be duly investigated. In interim, an alternative aircraft is being arranged for onward journey of our guests", said An Air India Express Spokesperson
• "Air India flight from Trichy to Sharjah faced a technical problem (Hydraulic failure) and is rounding in air space to decrease fuel before landing at Trichy airport. More than 20 Ambulances and fire tenders are placed at airport to make sure no big accident occurs", said Airport Director Gopalakrishnan. 

What Is Belly Landing?

A belly landing is an emergency landing where an aircraft touches down without extending its landing gear, meaning it lands directly on its underside, or "belly." This situation typically arises when re is a malfunction or failure in landing gear system, preventing it from deploying properly. During a belly landing, pilots will usually follow specific emergency protocols, such as burning off excess fuel (to reduce risk of fire), aiming for a smooth landing surface, and notifying emergency services. While risky, a well-executed belly landing can minimize damage and ensure safety of passengers and crew.