MUMBAI: In what could have turned into a major mishap, an Air India flight arriving from Kochi veered off the main runway during landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday amid heavy rainfall. The Airbus A320 aircraft, operating as AI 2744, briefly lost control during deceleration, skidded off the tarmac, and ended up on an adjacent taxiway. All passengers and crew escaped unhurt, and emergency systems kicked in swiftly.Though the final investigation report is awaited, initial assessments and operational data offer a timeline of what exactly went wrong:Aircraft & flight detailsAir India flight AI 2744, an Airbus A320 (VT-TYA), was operating the Kochi–Mumbai route.
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Weather conditionsThe incident occurred amid intense monsoon showers, with reduced visibility and slippery runway conditions reported throughout the day.Landing attemptThe aircraft attempted to land on Runway 27, Mumbai airport’s primary and longer runway.Loss of controlDuring the deceleration phase after touchdown, the plane failed to remain aligned with the runway’s centerline.Excursion off runwayThe aircraft veered 16–17 metres off the main runway, entering an unpaved surface shortly after the touchdown zone.Movement onto taxiwayAfter skidding through the soft ground, the aircraft reached and came to a halt on an adjacent taxiway, averting further damage.Tyre damageThree tyres burst during the runway excursion, though the aircraft remained structurally intact and was able to taxi on its own to a parking bay.Engine cowling damagedOne of the aircraft’s engines sustained damages during the runway excursion.Runway closureFollowing the incident, Runway 27 was shut temporarily to assess damage and begin clearing operations.Emergency protocolsThe airport’s emergency response teams were activated immediately; fire, rescue, and technical teams responded within minutes. To maintain flight operations, Mumbai activated its secondary runway — 14/32 — for landings and departures.Runway damagePreliminary checks revealed minor surface damage to the main runway caused by the skidding aircraft and tyre debris.
