Air India flight skids off runway, narrow escape for 102 passengers

Kochi, Sep 5: As many as 102 passengers on board an Air India Express flight, which landed at the airport from Abu Dhabi, had a narrow escape as it skidded off the runway in the early hours of today. The back wheel of the flight was struck into a drainage canal while moving towards apron, Airport sources said. However, none of the passengers or crew members were injured in the incident, the sources said, adding that all passengers were brought out through emergency ladder. The air traffic did not affected because of the incident and all other flights operated as per schedule as it took place far away from the runway, the sources added. The incident took place at around 0240 hours when the Abu-Dhabi Air India Express IX 452 approached the parking bay from taxiway after its landing, the sources said. The incident occurred at the link road, which was connecting apron and taxiway, the sources said and added that the flight took turn well ahead of 90 meter ahead, leading to the incident. The incident has been informed the Director General of Civil Aviation, the sources said. UNI