On Monday morning, an Air India A320 aircraft operating flight AI-2744 from Kochi experienced a runway excursion while landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The incident occurred at 9:27 AM during heavy rainfall.
After touchdown on Runway 27, the aircraft veered 16 to 17 metres off the main runway, entered an unpaved area, and then moved onto a taxiway before halting. Despite the skid, the aircraft managed to taxi to the parking bay under its own power. All passengers and crew disembarked safely. No injuries were reported.
The aircraft sustained damage to its engine cowling and three tyres reportedly burst during the incident. A team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating.
The main runway was temporarily closed following the event. To maintain flight operations, the secondary runway 14/32 was activated. Mumbai airport officials confirmed minor damage to the primary runway and stated that safety remains their top priority.
An Air India spokesperson said the aircraft encountered heavy rain during landing which led to the skid. The aircraft has been grounded for technical checks.
Such incidents are not new at Mumbai airport during the monsoon season. In September 2023, a Learjet 45 operated by VSR Ventures had also veered off the runway under similar weather conditions. That event had led to flight delays as the disabled aircraft took hours to be cleared.
Fortunately, in this case, swift emergency response and favorable circumstances prevented major disruption or harm.
