Air India Flight travelling to Kolkata had to return and make an emergency landing at Assam’s Silchar Airport on Wednesday.
The aircraft that took off as AI753 from Kolkata and landed at the Sichar Airport at 7 am. The same aircraft, which was supposed to return to Kolkata as AI 754, took off with 144 passengers on board at about 8 am.
“Immediately after take off, the pilot detected a technical snag. The pilot of flight AI754 returned to Silchar airport and landed the flight safely at 3:13 am,” an official of the Airports Authority of India said.
The aircraft, however, had to be parked at Bay no. 3, as no other parking bay was available, the official said. The aircraft is now placed at the isolation bay.
“All the passengers and crew were deboarded from the aircraft safely and passengers were intimated about the technical fault and cancellation of the flight,” a statement issued by the Airports Authority of India said.
The airport authorities initiated NOTAM action over the non-availability of parking bay for the day. A notice to airmen (NOTAM) is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight.
“Airlines have been instructed to ensure smooth cancellation and rescheduling of tickets and to provide all necessary support to passengers,” said the statement issued by P.K. Gorai, Director of Silchar Airport.