An Air India Express flight declared a mid-air emergency over Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on Friday evening due to a hydraulic failure. The aircraft, currently hovering over Trichy airspace, is expected to land shortly, according to the airport director.
The flight took off from Trichy airport en route to Sharjah at 5:43 PM but soon encountered a technical issue. The pilot informed the air station about the hydraulic failure, a situation that arises when the system controlling essential components, such as landing gear, brakes, and flaps, malfunctions.
The Trichy District Collector stated to India Today TV that the airport director assured there was no cause for concern, and the flight would land safely. The airport is preparing for a belly landing, which occurs when a plane lands without deploying its landing gear.
While fuel dumping was initially considered to lighten the aircraft, it was ultimately decided against due to the plane circling over residential areas. “As a precautionary measure, we have kept ambulances and rescue teams on standby,” added the District Collector.
