AI Los Angeles flight diverted to Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 1 (UNI) Air-India Delhi-Frankfurt-Los Angeles flight made a safe landing at the international airport here this afternoon following a suspected tyre burst after take-off from Delhi this morning.

Confirming this, Air India spokesman Jeetendra Bhargava said AI 137 carrying 284 passangers and 20 crew landed at Mumbai airport at 1400 hrs, adding the flight is expected to take off for its destination later tonight. Passangers have been accomodated in hotels, he added.

It was diverted to Mumbai after it was found that rubber pieces had come off tyres when it took off from Delhi airport at 0800 hrs.

It, however, could not be ascertained if the rubber pieces had come off following a tyre burst but airport sources in Mumbai said the plane was allowed to land only after the necessary precautionary measures were taken.

UNI JM SA PA BD1830