Passengers of a Tuticorin-bound Spicejet aircraft from Chennai had a “miraculous escape” after the tail of the flight touched the runway while landing on Sunday morning.
Airport sources said Spicejet’s Bombardier Q400 aircraft with 49 passengers onboard that left Chennai at 7.35 a.m. was to land at Tuticorin airport in Vaagaikulam, about 17 km from the port town, at 8.35 a.m. on Sunday.
When the nosewheel was about to land following the “proper functioning” of main landing gear, the tail of the aircraft touched the 1,351-metre-long runway, triggering a sudden jerk in the airplane and panic among the passengers.
After the unusual landing, the aircraft was parked in the apron of the domestic airport.
Though none was injured in the “minor incident,” as termed by the Tuticorin airport authorities, Director General of Civil Aviation rushed its Assistant Director at the Chennai Office M. Durairaj, to the airport to probe the incident and subsequently submit a report in this connection.
Mr. Durairaj, in the presence of Assistant General Manager (Technical), Tuticorin airport, C. Prabakar, conducted the enquiry to ascertain the facts behind the “trivial mishap.”
As the aircraft’s journey to Chennai was cancelled following the incident, 10 of the 52 passengers waiting at Tuticorin airport to board the flight were rushed to Madurai by road, considering the necessity of their presence in the State capital, from where they took the flight, while similar number of passengers cancelled their trip.
The remaining 32 passengers, after being accommodated in hotels, took the evening flight to reach Chennai.
