After skidding off, the flight crossed a drain beside the apron area of the airport making it difficult for passengers to get out of the aircraft. Kochi: About 102 passengers on board an Air India Express flight had a narrow escape when the aircraft skidded off the runway soon after it touched down at the Cochin International Airport here on Monday.
After skidding off, the Abu Dhabi- Kochi flight crossed a drain beside the apron area of the airport, making it difficult for passengers to get out of the aircraft.
None of the passengers or the six crew members on board the aircraft were injured in the incident, which happened amid heavy rain. A ladder was specially arranged to help all the 102 passengers to disembark the flight.
"All passengers were evacuated through ladder. All safe. No casualties," a Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) spokesman said.
The nose-wheel of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft also collapsed after it went off the taxiway, an airline source said.
The incident took place at around 2.40 am when the Abu Dhabi-Kochi Air India Express IX 452 approached the parking bay from taxiway after its landing at 2.39 am, the CIAL spokesman said.
Many passengers are still waiting at the airport to collect their luggage, Manorama News reported.
The aircraft has been grounded after the incident, the source said, adding an internal inquiry as well as a probe by the aviation regulator DGCA has been initiated.
(With inputs from PTI)
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