Flight operations were disrupted at the Mangaluru International Airport in Kenjar, near here, as the runway was shut for three-and -a-half hours on Tuesday afternoon after the rear tyres of a navy aircraft burst following emergency landing. The runway was cleared for operations at 9 pm.
Speaking to DH, Airport Director Radhakrishna said that naval aircraft MIG 29 K made an emergency landing following technical fault at 5.35 pm. While landing, the tyre of the aircraft burst. The pilot had contacted the Air Traffic Control and sought permission for emergency landing. The aircraft was stranded on the runway, blocking it for routine commercial operations, he said. Pilot Commander Abhijit was unhurt in the incident, he said.
Eight flights were affected due to the runway closure, of which three were diverted and five held at originating airports, the director said.
Spokesperson of the Indian Navy tweeted: “Air traffic disrupted temporarily at Mangalore airport view emergency landing of Naval fighter...” Further, the tweet read, “During a routine training sortie, an MIG 29 K fighter aircraft diverted to Mangalore airfield following a hydraulic emergency. During the landing, the aircraft experienced a tyre burst and couldn’t clear off the runway. A second MIG 29 K had escorted the aircraft. A recovery team is rectifying the aircraft on site and would clear it off the runway expeditiously.”
An Air India official said two AI flights were supposed to take off from the airport during the disruption.
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