A potential aviation disaster was narrowly avoided on Monday morning when an Air India flight arriving from Kochi skidded off the runway while landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). The incident occurred at approximately 9:27 am, amidst intense rainfall across the city and other parts of Maharashtra.
The airline confirmed that the aircraft, operating as Flight AI2744, veered off the runway after touchdown due to challenging weather conditions. Although the plane sustained some damage, all passengers and crew members were reported safe. Emergency response teams at the airport were promptly deployed and took immediate control of the situation.
“Flight AI2744, operating from Kochi to Mumbai on July 21, encountered heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion,” an Air India spokesperson stated. “The aircraft was safely taxied to the gate, and all passengers and crew disembarked safely. The aircraft has been grounded for thorough inspection.”
CSMIA also issued a statement confirming the incident and the swift action taken by their emergency teams. “An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at 09:27 hours. All onboard are safe,” the airport said.
The primary runway (09/27) sustained minor damage during the incident. To ensure uninterrupted operations, the airport authorities activated the secondary runway (14/32) for arrivals and departures.
The exact number of passengers onboard at the time of the incident has not been disclosed. Investigations and safety inspections are currently underway.