Mumbai Air India Flight Overshoots Runway Amid Heavy Rains
Mumbai experienced flight disruptions on Monday as an Air India A320 aircraft, arriving from Kochi (AI 2744), overshot the city’s primary runway (27) after touching down amidst heavy rainfall. The incident, which occurred at 9:27 AM, saw the aircraft veer off the paved surface, resulting in three tyre bursts and minor damage to the runway edge lights and a nearby signage before it came to a halt. Fortunately, all passengers and crew disembarked safely, with no injuries reported.
Following the runway excursion, the aircraft, despite sustaining some damage to its engine cowling and tail section, was able to taxi safely to a parking bay. While a few subsequent flights continued their landing, the primary runway was promptly shut down for assessment and repairs. This necessitated the activation of the airport’s shorter secondary runway (14/32) to ensure continuity of operations. The closure led to the diversion of eight incoming flights to other airports, and three flights had to abort their initial landing attempts, executing go-arounds before a successful touchdown on the alternate runway.
Mumbai airport’s emergency response teams were immediately activated to manage the situation. The primary runway was successfully repaired and reopened to flight movements at 12:03 PM. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the runway excursion. Air India released a statement confirming the event, reiterating that the aircraft experienced heavy rain during landing and that it has been grounded for checks.
Runway excursions, where an aircraft departs the runway surface during takeoff or landing, are not uncommon during Mumbai’s monsoon season. A similar incident occurred in September 2023, involving a VSR Ventures Learjet. Authorities consistently emphasize caution during adverse weather, and investigations like this one aim to reinforce safety protocols and mitigate risks for future operations, ensuring passenger safety remains paramount amidst challenging weather conditions.
