Kochi: A major disaster was averted when a Gulf Air flight carrying 137 on board skidded off the runway while landing at the airport here early on Monday morning. The aircraft came to a halt in a muddy area close to the runway, and there was no loss of life.
Nedumbaseery airport authorities said seven passengers were injured, of which only one needed hospitalisation. The rest made do with first aid. The 130 others including an infant and the six crew escaped unhurt through the emergency doors of the Airbus 320 aircraft.
The runway was closed immediately, leading to diversion of 12 international flights and delays in the operation of several domestic flights.
The pilot was quoted as saying the aircraft veered off the runway because of the heavy rain and poor visibility. The wings, nose wheel and engine have been damaged. A Disabled Aircraft Retrieval Kit was summoned from Mumbai, the Managing Director of the Cochin International Airport limited (CIAL) Dr V J Kurien told reporters.
Dr Kurient said Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. ``Let's not jump into any conclusions. The pilot has informed us that he could see the runway from six nautical miles away. There was moderate rain when the aircraft reached 2000 feet of height on its descend. But there was a sudden gush of wind and intense rains after the aircraft crossed down the decision height of 352 feet.''
29/08/11 T Ramavarman/Times of India
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