SpiceJet plane skids at Hubli airport, no one hurt

Incident said to have occurred due to heavy rains; DGCA to probe

A SpiceJet Bombardier Q400 plane, with 75 passengers and crew members on board, skidded off the runway at Karnataka's Hubli airport on Sunday evening.

The incident, in which no injury was reported, took place at around 7:30 pm, as the pilot was not able to control the aircraft after it landed at the airport amid heavy rainfall.

"The left landing gear of the aircraft was damaged. A team of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will visit Hubli for inspection and inquiry," said a source in the know.

The airport in Hubli does not have advanced instrument landing system to aid pilots in landing. Also, it does not have approach lights at the runway, and the width of the runway is narrower than those at major airports. These factors, coupled with rains, would have made the landing difficult, sources said.

"All passengers and crew members are safe; they are at the terminal. There are no injuries. We are working with DGCA on next steps," said a  spokesperson for SpiceJet.