Special Correspondent
Mumbai – The streak of misfortunes trailing Air India continues, with yet another close call raising serious concerns. On Monday morning, an Air India aircraft skidded off the runway during landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), narrowly avoiding a major disaster. Panic briefly gripped the scene, but swift response ensured that all passengers and crew remained safe.
This incident follows last month’s tragic crash of an Air India flight bound for London from Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of 275 people. Since then, several reports of technical glitches across Air India’s fleet have emerged, compounding public worry about the airline’s safety standards.
The latest incident occurred as flight AI2744 from Kochi to Mumbai attempted to land amidst heavy rainfall. According to an official statement from Air India, the aircraft veered off the runway due to the wet surface, but thankfully, no injuries were reported. All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft, which has been held back for inspection.
“Passenger and crew safety remains our top priority,” the airline said in its statement.
A spokesperson for CSMIA confirmed the incident, stating, “At 9:27 AM today, the incoming Air India flight from Kochi skidded off the main runway (09/27) while landing in heavy rain. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed. All on board are safe.”
Although the aircraft caused minor damage to the primary runway, the airport promptly activated runway 14/32 to ensure uninterrupted flight operations.
The incident is under investigation, and aviation authorities are expected to review the aircraft’s condition and operational protocols, especially in view of recent technical issues plaguing the airline.
