An IndiGo flight from Pune to Guwahati made a safe emergency landing at Pune Airport on Sunday morning after its landing gear failed to retract shortly after take-off. All 192 people on board, including passengers and crew members, were reported safe, and no injuries were recorded.
IndiGo flight 6E 0623 had departed from Pune for Guwahati when the aircraft’s wheels remained outside instead of retracting as normal. The pilot informed air traffic control about the technical problem and brought the aircraft back towards Pune Airport.
Because Pune Airport operates from an Indian Air Force base, the Air Force declared a full emergency after receiving information about the malfunction, according to the Lokmat report. Airport administration, air traffic control and emergency response teams were placed on high alert. Fire engines and ambulances were positioned near the runway as a precaution.
Before landing, the aircraft made a low pass over the runway so that personnel on the ground could visually inspect the landing gear. The manoeuvre allowed the ground teams to assess the aircraft’s condition before it attempted to land.
The flight landed safely at Pune Airport at 9:04 am and was moved to bay number 7. After the aircraft was inspected and considered safe, air traffic control withdrew the full emergency declaration at 9:10 am. An aerobridge was then connected, allowing all passengers and crew members to leave the aircraft safely.
The landing-gear malfunction prevented the aircraft from continuing normally to Guwahati. With the wheels remaining extended, the aircraft would face increased air resistance and reduced operational efficiency, making an immediate return to the departure airport the safer course described in the report.
IndiGo arranged an alternative aircraft for the passengers’ onward journey, the report said. The incident also required coordination between the airline, the pilot, air traffic control, airport authorities, emergency services and the Indian Air Force because of the airport’s operating environment.
The immediate emergency response ended after the aircraft was safely parked and the people on board were evacuated without injury. Further operational details about the aircraft and the technical cause of the landing-gear malfunction were not provided in the supplied report.
