All 102 passengers on board an Air India Express plane coming from Abu Dhabi had a close shave as it skidded off the runway at Kochi airport on landing, with its wheels ending up inside a drain on Tuesday.
The incident occurred early on Tuesday morning at around 2.40am, when the plane was approaching the parking bay from the taxiway after landing.
On landing, the plane veered off the taxiway and crossed a drain beside the apron area of the aircraft with its wheel stuck inside the drain, which made it difficult for passengers to disembark.
IX452. Abu Dhabi-kochi Air India express turned off from taxi way to apron with 102 pax at 2.40am. All pax evacuated thru ladder. All safe.
— Kochi Airport (@KochiAirport) September 4, 2017
Besides the 102 passengers, there were six crew members who also escaped without any injuries.
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A ladder was arranged to take the passengers out of the plane.
"All passengers were evacuated through ladder. All safe. No casualties," a Cochin International Airport (CIAL) spokesperson said.
IX452 Abu Dhabi-Kochi Air India Express turned off from taxiway to apron with 102 pax at 2.40am. It landed at 2.39am and the incident took place while approaching the parking bay. All pax evacuated thru ladder. All safe. No casualties.
The plane took a turn 90 metres ahead from the actual position where it had to take the turn. That was the reason for the accident. 102 passengers rescued through ladder. Other services are not affected as it happened away from runway. We have informed about the accident to the director general of civil aviation. CIAL has also offered the recovery team services to Air India Express," CIAL said in a Facebook post.
Airline regulator DGCA has ordered a probe into the incident while the aircraft has been grounded.