Miracle at 200 Feet: Quick-Thinking Pilots Avert Chennai Air Scare

Passengers on board an Air India Express flight from Singapore had a heart-stopping mid-air scare on Wednesday morning when the aircraft had to abort landing just 200 feet above the runway at Chennai. The pilots' hasty action helped all the 180 passengers and crew members to a safe landing.
Main Points:

The mishap took place at around 10:15 am as the Airbus was making its final approach to Chennai International Airport.

Pilots saw an unstabilised approach due to a high rate of descent and unexpected crosswinds, which made landing hazardous.

The pilots carried out a go-around procedure at only 200 feet from ground level by pulling the plane up and making a re-circle around the airport.

The aircraft safely landed for the second time after the flight was delayed for about 30 minutes.

All the crew members and passengers remained safe, and the flight safely disembarked.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) affirmed that the go-around decision was precautionary due to a requirement of controlled descent rate, accurate speed, and exact runway alignment.

Aviation officials pointed out that the descent was steep and there was an unexpected change in wind conditions, which prompted the go-around.

This accident follows a string of recent runway panic moments at Chennai airport, such as a similar aborted landing of an IndiGo flight last October and a tail strike incident in March.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is likely to request for a detailed report from Air India Express and Air Traffic Control about the incident.

The incident has renewed fears about landing safety at Chennai, and there have been demands for a review of wind pattern data and approach procedures.

Passengers, though traumatized, lauded the professionalism of the cockpit crew for their prompt and quick response, which saved the day from a possible tragedy.

Source: The Economic Times