AI flight's tyres deflate while landing at Delhi

"Air India's Mumbai-Bhopal-Indore-Delhi flight (IC-133) with 100 passengers and six crew members landed at Delhi airport at 1058 hrs and was taxiing towards the parking bay when engineers at the ground noticed two deflated tyres of the left landing gear and sparks emanating due to friction," an airline official said. They then immediately informed the pilot and asked him to stop the Airbus-320 aircraft.

The crash fire tenders were immediately called in, which sprinkled water and foam to cool the aircraft's undercarriage in order to prevent any fire, he said, adding "all the passengers onboard are safe". According to sources, there was no tyre burst as the pilot did not notice any unusual jerk. "The tyres got deflated after the aircraft had landed and while it was taxiing," they said.

Tuesday's incident at the IGI airport is in the series of close shaves involving passenger aircraft. Earlier this month, an Air India Express Dubai-Pune flight, with 112 passengers on board, rapidly descended several thousand feet over Muscat air space.
A Chennai-bound Spicejet flight with 201 passengers was cleared for take-off shortly after 1.30 a.m. but the flight commander detected some technical problem and informed the air traffic control.