A Sharjah-bound Air India Express flight, which encountered a landing gear issue shortly after takeoff from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu, landed safely after circling the city for nearly two hours. The Boeing 737 aircraft, carrying 141 passengers, took off at 5:45 pm but soon faced a hydraulic failure, forcing it to stay airborne to burn off fuel before landing.
The plane had been circling over the city of Trichy as it attempted to reduce its fuel load, which is a necessary precaution for safe landings in case of technical malfunctions. Preparations were made at Trichy Airport for a possible belly landing, with 18 fire engines and multiple ambulances stationed on-site.
Trichy Airport Director Gopalakrishnan confirmed the technical problem and the readiness of emergency services to ensure passenger safety. More than 20 ambulances and fire tenders were positioned to prevent any potential mishaps. Policemen have also been deployed to assist at the airport.
This flight, which was expected to reach Sharjah, experienced the issue soon after takeoff and had to stay within Trichy’s airspace. According to authorities, all passengers and crew are safe, and further technical inspections of the aircraft are underway.