Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 12: A major mishap was averted due to the quick thinking of the Air Traffic Control team. A Dubai-bound Air India Express flight brushed a boundary wall during take-off from Trichy in Tamil Nadu, during early hours of October 12. The pilots who seemed unaware, continued to fly for three hours until they received communication from Air Traffic Control to land in Mumbai as precaution.

The fuselage or body of Boeing 737 aircraft which was carrying 136 passengers was extensively damaged, and officials stated it was a potentially dangerous situation.

The pilots Captain D Ganesh Babu and The First Officer Captain Anurag have been grounded for investigation.

The Air India flight, bound to Dubai took off from Trichy airport at a runway speed of 250-290 km per hour. However, while hurtling around the runway before take-off, two of its wheels hit the airport perimeter wall which collapsed on impact.

The Air Traffic Control contacted the pilots and questioned if the “aircraft might have come in contact with the wall.” However, “the pilot in command reported that all systems were operating normally,” Air India Express said in a statement.

But yet as a precaution, it was decided to divert the aircraft to Mumbai. The plane landed in Mumbai around 5.35 am. The passengers and crew are reported safe.

But upon investigation, officials found that the plane's body had tears, cracks and dents that were potentially very dangerous. Images show incredible damage to the belly. Broken parts of the plane's antenna were found on the ground at the Trichy airport, an officer said.

Another flight was arranged to take the passengers from Mumbai to Dubai.

The statement issued by Air India states the pilot in command Captain D. Ganesh Babu, has a flying experience on the B 737 aircraft of 3600 hours, including about 500 hours as commander. The First Officer Captain Anurag has an experience of about 3000 hours on the B 737.

“The aviation watchdog will investigate the entire episode. The plane might have overshot the runway,” an official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation told media.