Johnson Cherian.
Over 100 passengers and six crew of an Air India Express flight IX 452 from Abu Dhabi had a lucky escape after their aeroplane skidded off its taxiway in the early hours of Tuesday. The plane’s back wheels jumped off the taxiway into the nearby drain and the passengers were evacuated through the front door, source said.
Sources said that it was poor visibility in heavy rains that caused the accident. The accident occurred around 2.40 a. m. None of the passengers (102) were hurt. The Director General of Civil Aviation has been informed of the accident, airport sources said.
Air India Express authorities have assured to deliver the passengers’ baggage at their homes.
The authorities have ordered an enquiry into the incident, sources added.
Meanwhile, Cochin International Airport authorities have clarified that since the aeroplane involved in the accident was not near the runway, other flight services from the airport had not been affected. The team of safety experts from Air India Express had reached Kochi with support from CIAL, which has a fully-equipped recovery team, airport sources added.
