AAIB to probe SpiceJet aircraft that overshot runway at Shirdi airport

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the incident where a SpiceJet aircraft overshot the runway at Shirdi airport.

"On April 29, at about 16:22 hours, SpiceJet flight SG 946 from Delhi to Shirdi had stuck on the end of Runway 27, apparently due to the high tailwind," said authorities at Shirdi airport.

"There were a total of 189 passengers and six crew members were on board and measures are being taken by the authorities to deplane the passengers," they said.

"Aircraft is stuck in the soft surface. It is, therefore, a challenge to reach the aircraft. However, MADC has arranged the equipment to reach the stepladder to the aircraft for the disembarkation of the passengers," they said.

"At the time of the incident, two aircraft (one of SpiceJet flight to Bhopal with 56 passengers and one plane of Air India to Mumbai) were on the ground. However, arrangements were made to clear the takeoff of the aircraft on ground by displacing the runway threshold," authorities said.

"The SpiceJet flight to Bhopal took off safely for the destination at around 5:30 pm. However, Air India flight to Mumbai with 52 passengers has been cancelled and the airlines are doing the needful alternative arrangement for the stranded passengers. (360 Delhi-bound passengers of SpiceJet flight SG942 and SG748 with 61 passengers of Hyderabad)," authorities said.

"Due to this incident, landings of the two flights have been affected. Air India flight 9I 869 (Hyderabad- Shirdi) which has been sent back to Hyderabad and SpiceJet flight SG 471 (Delhi- Shirdi) to Delhi due to unavailability of the runway at Shirdi Airport," they said.

As a course of action, MADC has initiated a NOTAM stating the unavailability of the runway.

However, MADC is making all efforts to remove the obstructed aircraft and bring the operations back to normal as soon as possible, authorities at Shirdi airport further said.