Flight operations at Mumbai’s busy international airport were halted for an hour and 45 minutes on Wednesday, after a business jet arriving from Vishakapatnam veered off the runway.
The jet, with a call sign of VT-DBL, “veered off” on the primary runway (runway 27) and then skidded off onto the adjoining grass surface, following bad weather and continuous rainfall.
Photographs of the ill-fated aircraft indicate that it broke into two parts from the cockpit portion, due to the impact of the accident. The eight people on board, including two pilots, were injured and rushed to hospitals by the airport authorities.
The pilots are reportedly in a serious condition. According to airport officials, there have not been any fatalites.
‘No casualties’
“On 14.09.2023, M/s VSR Ventures Learjet 45 aircraft VT-DBL, operating a flight from Vizag to Mumbai with six passengers and two crew members on board, veered off the runway at Mumbai International Airport. The incident occurred at approximately 17:02 p.m.,” the spokesperson of Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said in a statement.
“There is no casualty. The runway is now open for operations post DGCA clearance at 18:47 after all safety checks were conducted,” the statement added.
According to a DGCA note seen by The Hindu, the aircraft was involved in runway excursions or veering off while landing. At the time of landing, the visibility was just 700 metrers with heavy rain, as per the note.
According to the passenger manifest of the aircraft, the passengers include Dhruv Kotak, Lars Sorenson (a Denmark national), K.K. Krishnadas, Aakarsh Shethi, Arval Sali and Ms. Kamakshi.
The pilot in command was Captain Sunil, while the first officer has been identified as Captain Neil.
