NEW DELHI: An Air India Airbus A320 skidded off the runway while landing amid heavy rain at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday, causing temporary runway closure and damage to the aircraft’s engine casing.
The aircraft, operating as flight AI2744 from Kochi, veered off the runway in what the airport authorities described as a “runway excursion.” Air India confirmed that all passengers and crew safely disembarked, though it did not disclose whether there were any injuries.
In a statement, the Mumbai airport reported “minor damage” to the primary runway due to the incident and activated a secondary runway to maintain operations. Air India stated that the aircraft has been grounded pending inspection.
According to a Times of India report citing unnamed sources, three of the aircraft’s tyres burst upon landing. Visuals aired by NDTV and India Today showed the outer casing of one of the engines visibly damaged, with apparent cracks.
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The incident comes as Air India faces increasing scrutiny over safety practices. Just last month, a deadly crash involving an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives. Additionally, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently announced plans to investigate Air India Express, a budget subsidiary, following a Reuters investigation that revealed the airline allegedly failed to replace critical Airbus A320 engine components and falsified compliance records.
The latest runway incident further amplifies concerns around Air India’s operational safety and regulatory compliance.