In a worrying development, fragments of an aircraft that apparently took off from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were found in the capital’s Vasant Kunj locality.
As soon as the South-West District Police informed the airport authorities about this incident, it led to panic. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) alerted the pilots of all the planes that were to take off during that time period about this incident. After a long exercise, the plane was identified and the Air India Express aircraft was instructed to return to the airport.
According to airport sources, the incident took place on the night of September 2 at around 9:30 pm. When the plane was passing through the Vasant Kunj area, some pieces of metal from the aircraft’s body fell onto the roof of a house located in the area. The owner of the house immediately shared this information with the Delhi Police Control Room.
The Delhi Police Control Room shared this with other agencies including the IGI Airport. The process of identification of those planes which had flown towards the Vasant Kunj area kicked off immediately. The ATC informed all the pilots of the planes taking off and landing from the IGI Airport during that period about this incident. After a long exercise, the aircraft was identified as Air India Express flight number IX-145.
The ATC contacted the pilot of the plane and informed him about the metal pieces found from the house in Vasant Kunj. The pilot was instructed to return immediately and make a precautionary landing.
Following all arrangements, the plane landed at the IGI airport. According to sources, all the passengers and crew members on board the plane were safe.
Officials from Air India Express said that flight IX 145 took off from Delhi on September 2. After takeoff, a problem in the engine was detected. The pilot followed the prescribed procedures and made a precautionary landing at the Delhi airport. The regulator and other related agencies have been informed. The investigation is ongoing.
Speaking about the metal pieces of the aircraft found at the Shankar Vihar area of Vasant Kunj, the airline said that they received the information about metal pieces of their aircraft at Shankar Vihar. They were not in a position to confirm whether these pieces fell off from their plane and the pieces are being investigated.
The South West District Police said that the investigation report of the plane is yet to come. It can only be ascertained whether the pieces that fell off, belonged to the Air India Express aircraft after the report, they said.
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