Hubballi airport ready for flight services

Following heavy rains a plane had skidded off and got stuck in the mud and thus blocked the runway

SpiceJet which had suspended its services to Hubballi, will soon resume operation as the runway at Hubballi has been cleared for traffic.

The SpiceJet had suspended its operations after its plane SpiceJet SG-1085 which arrived from Bengaluru on March 8 crashlanded at Hubballi airport after its tyre got burst. The plane with 78 passengers on board had overshot the runway. However, all the passengers were safe and had been rescued by the airport staff.

Following heavy rains the plane had skidded off and was on its belly. Since the plane had got stuck in the mud, the runway was blocked and no flight services could be allowed.

As a result, the airport was closed for traffic and the services were temporarily shifted to the Belagavi airport.

Hubballi airport director Shivanand Benal said after the officials from DGCA visited the airport after the mishap and inspected the site and the aircraft, the plane that had got stuck has been moved away and the runway had been cleared. “On our part, we have kept the runway ready for resumption of operations and have informed SpiceJet to resume services. The services may start in a couple of days” he said.

Karnataka minister for information Roshan Baig was on board the plane that crashlanded and along with him were three judges of the Karnataka High Court. Baig had expressed his anguish at the district deputy commissioner and city police commissioner not rushing to the spot immediately after the mishap.

He had written to chief secretary complaining about the two officers. Chief Secretary Koushik Mukherjee had issued notices to the DC and police commissioner seeking explanation from them.