Air India Flight IX613 Dumps Fuel Over Trichy Due to Landing Gear Issue

An Air India Express flight, AXB613 IX613, bound for Sharjah, circled over Trichy, Tamil Nadu, for nearly two hours due to a landing gear issue before safely landing at the airport. The Boeing 737, carrying 141 passengers, took off from Trichy Airport at 5:45 PM. To burn off fuel, the aircraft remained airborne before successfully landing at 8:15 PM.

In response to the issue, the pilots dumped fuel to reduce the aircraft's weight in preparation for an attempted safe landing back at Trichy Airport. While this is not classified as an emergency, the airport has implemented all precautionary safety measures.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the flight landed without incident. "The Air India Express Flight IX 613 from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah has landed safely at Tiruchirapalli Airport. The DGCA was monitoring the situation. The landing gear was opening, and the flight landed normally. The airport was placed on alert," the ministry stated.

Trichy Airport Director Gopalakrishnan reported that the Air India flight experienced a hydraulic failure. To ensure passenger safety, over 20 ambulances and fire tenders were on standby at the airport to prevent any potential accidents.

It must be noted that Trichy Airport authorities had readied 18 fire engines and ground support teams in case the situation escalates. However, the current focus is on safely landing the plane without the need for emergency protocols. The pilots are maintaining close communication with air traffic control as they work through the procedure.

Passengers aboard the flight have been kept informed, and the crew is taking all necessary steps to ensure a safe and controlled landing. The decision to dump fuel is a standard practice to minimize the risk during landing when technical issues arise.

Though not an emergency, Trichy Airport has fully prepared for any eventuality. The aircraft has landed safely once enough fuel was dumped.