Air India Express Jeddah–Kozhikode Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Kochi After Tyre Issue

An Air India Express flight operating from Jeddah to Kozhikode made an emergency landing at Cochin International Airport on Thursday morning after a technical issue involving its landing gear and tyre. The aircraft, carrying 160 passengers, developed a problem with the right main landing gear and tyre, prompting air traffic authorities to divert the flight to Kochi as a precautionary measure.

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) confirmed that the flight, IX 398, landed safely at 9:07 am under full emergency procedures. No injuries were reported and all passengers on board were safe.

Airport officials said the flight crew managed the situation efficiently, ensuring a smooth and incident-free landing. Emergency response teams were kept on standby throughout the operation as a precaution, officials added.

According to PTI, the airline is expected to carry out a detailed investigation into the technical fault. Passengers have been provided assistance for their onward travel arrangements.

In a separate incident earlier this week, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's helicopter made an emergency landing at Kheria airport in Agra on Monday after weather conditions deteriorated mid-flight. The chief minister was travelling from Jaipur to Bharatpur when the pilot decided to alter the route due to poor weather over parts of eastern Rajasthan.

As a safety measure, the helicopter was diverted to Agra. Additional District Magistrate (Protocol) Prashant Tiwari said the weather in Bharatpur worsened unexpectedly, leaving the pilot with no alternative but to land at the nearest suitable airport. After waiting for around an hour, weather conditions improved, following which the helicopter resumed its journey to Bharatpur, officials said.

Earlier this month, on December 2, an IndiGo flight travelling from Kuwait to Hyderabad was also forced to make an emergency landing after a bomb threat was received. The aircraft was diverted to Mumbai and landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Authorities described the threat, which was sent through a detailed email to Hyderabad airport, as specific in nature. Upon landing in Mumbai, the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay where comprehensive security checks were conducted. All standard safety protocols were followed, and no suspicious object was found during the inspection.