Click to play videoNew Delhi: There was chaos at Capital’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Monday morning when an Air India flight coming from Bangkok got bogged down on the taxiway.
The Bangkok-New Delhi (AI-349) flight - with 169 passengers on board – skidded at the taxiway after developing landing gear problems.
However, 183 passengers on board were reported to be safe and de-boarded the plane after being in the aircraft for about an hour. The main runway, which is closed, is expected to be cleared by the afternoon.
The snag disrupted air traffic for about three hours and threw flight schedules out of gear.
The main runway of the Indira Gandhi International airport remained closed. However, the second runway was operational.
However, the traffic has been restored by using the secondary runway.
The passengers and the baggage were offloaded on the main runway itself.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Air India has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Heavy pick-up lifts and cranes have already started pulling out the aircraft and towing it away.
The baggage of passengers was offloaded from the aircraft and transit passengers were being given alternative flight options, an airport official told CNN-IBN.
Meanwhile, an Air India spokesman said they would conduct an enquiry into the incident.
"Absolutely, we will have an enquiry into the incident and would find out what caused the problem. We will take necessary steps after that," Air India's Public Relations chief, Venkat said.
He said the pilot did a good job to safely land the aircraft.
The spokesperson for the civil aviation ministry acknowledges that Air India needs new aircraft.
"Air India planes are old and new planes are coming, but no plane takes off and flies in the Indian skies before getting a proper clearance from the DGCA. Planes may be old but unless they are airworthy, they do not fly," he said.
(With inputs from Karma Paljor)
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