Air India Express plane lands under emergency conditions

A Dammam-bound Air India Express plane from Mangaluru with 131 passengers and crew onboard landed under emergency conditions at Kochi after sparks were seen by the Air Traffic Control as the aircraft got airborne.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft landed safely and there was no harm to any passenger or crew, an Air India Express spokesperson said, adding that after an inspection the aircraft was cleared for onward journey.

The flight IXE 885 took off at 6.13 pm on Wednesday from Mangaluru airport for Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

"However, Mangaluru Air Traffic Control noticed sparks in the aircraft and reported the same to the flight commander.

"The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Kochi following permission from the ATC there," the spokesperson said.

The flight made a "precautionary" landing at Kochi International airport at 7.30 pm, he said.

Air India Express engineers carried out a thorough inspection of the aircraft upon its arrival at Kochi but did not find any "snag" in it, the spokesperson said adding the aircraft departed for its destination at 10.30 am from Kochi.