Near Miss in Mumbai: Air India Jet Skids Off Runway, Engine Damaged in Monsoon Landing

Key highlights

 

An Air India A320 operating as flight AI-2744 from Kochi to Mumbai made a harrowing landing at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on the morning of July 21, 2025. The aircraft skidded off the main runway during heavy monsoon rain, sustaining engine and landing gear damage but with no injuries to the passengers and crew.

 

Incident Details

 

The plane landed on Runway 27 at 9:27 AM amidst heavy rain, with the northern suburbs of Mumbai experiencing high rainfall that caused slippery runway conditions and low visibility.

 

After touchdown, the airplane failed to decelerate normally, skidding from the paved surface to an unpaved area, then a taxiway, before coming to a stop.

 

Sources indicated that three of the tyres on the aircraft burst during the procedure, while the engine was also damaged, either after having swallowed debris or due to the collision with unpaved terrain. The belly of one engine was specifically cited as struck.

 

Response and Aftermath

 

The airport immediately activated emergency procedures, with crews sent to secure the plane and check the runway for damage. All passengers and crew were confirmed safe by Mumbai Airport authorities and escorted safely off the plane.

 

In spite of the incident, the pilots were able to make a controlled stop and taxi the plane to the parking bay, averting a worse disruption.

 

The main runway (09/27) was slightly damaged; operations, therefore, shifted to the second runway (14/32), thereby maintaining flight operations as repairs on the damaged strip began.

 

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched a complete investigation, prioritizing adverse weather procedures and the performance of aircraft during monsoon.

 

Operational and Safety Implications The A320 has been grounded for detailed damage inspection and maintenance checks. The incident, though not new during Mumbai's monsoon (citing a number of past excursions), refocuses concern on the difficulties of managing India's busiest airport in poor weather.

 

Mumbai's congested air traffic and single-runway operating model ensure that any such incident has the potential to cause ripples throughout national and international timetables.

 

The quick response of the crew and ground personnel averted injuries and kept disruption to a minimum, although the incident underscores continued aviation safety issues as Indian airports struggle with extreme weather conditions.

 

Sources: Times of India, Indian Express, Reuters