Runway scare: Kochi bound Air India flight veers off course during landing at Mumbai airport; passengers safe | Mumbai News
MUMBAI: An Air India aircraft overshot the runway while landing at Mumbai airport amid heavy rain on Monday morning. The A320 aircraft skidded off the main Runway 27, ran into an unpaved area, and then onto a taxiway before coming to a halt. Though the aircraft sustained some damage, it was not disabled and was able to taxi to a parking bay, said sources. The main runway was shut following the incident.“There are minor damages reported to the airport’s primary runway — 09/27.”“To ensure continuity of operations, the secondary runway — 14/32 — has been activated,” said a Mumbai airport spokesperson.The incident occurred at 9:27am when Air India flight AI-2744 landed from Kochi. The A320 aircraft (VT-TYA) touched down on Runway 27 but failed to remain on the runway during deceleration. Sources said a team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is at the airport to investigate the matter.An Air India spokesperson said: “Flight AI-2744, operating from Kochi to Mumbai on 21 July 2025, experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion after touchdown. The aircraft taxied safely to the gate, and all passengers and crew have since disembarked. The aircraft has been grounded for checks. The safety of passengers and crew remains our top priority.”Mumbai airport, in a statement, said: “An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09:27 hours on 21 July 2025. CSMIA’s emergency response teams were immediately activated to manage the incident. All passengers and crew are safe. Minor damages have been reported to the airport’s primary runway — 09/27. To ensure continuity of operations, the secondary runway — 14/32 — has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority.”Had the aircraft gotten stuck in the unpaved ground, the main runway would have remained shut until it was removed. In the past, several runway excursions have occurred at Mumbai airport during the monsoon. In September 2023, a VSR Ventures Learjet 45 arriving from Visakhapatnam veered off the runway during heavy rain and poor visibility. That disabled aircraft took several hours to be removed.
