NEW DELHI/RAIPUR: In a minor scare for 41 people, including four crew members, on board an Alliance Air flight from New Delhi to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, a tyre burst during landing at Bilaspur airport on Friday afternoon. The pilots brought the aircraft to a controlled halt on the runway, and all passengers were safely evacuated.
The airport is nearly 100 km from the state capital Raipur. Flight 91-613, bearing registration number VT-UDA, took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 11.11 am and was landing at Bilaspur airport at 1.22 pm when the incident involving the tyre on the left-hand side occurred.
Airport director N Biren Singh told TNIE, “All 41 people on board—comprising 37 passengers and four crew members—escaped unhurt and were safely evacuated. The tyre on the left side of the landing gear burst.” This caused a puncture during touchdown, he said.
“Following the puncture, the pilots brought the aircraft to a safe and controlled halt on the runway. Ground support and airport personnel acted promptly to disembark all passengers and crew members directly onto the runway before escorting them securely to the airport terminal building," the officer added.
Confirming the incident, Alliance Air in a statement said, “While landing, there was an occurrence of wheel burst of the main wheels on the left-hand side. The aircraft was brought to a halt, and all 36 passengers and four crew members deplaned safely. There were no injuries." The same aircraft had operated on the Delhi-Kullu-Delhi route safely in the morning. “A team of engineers will ascertain the reasons for the occurrence,” the airline added.
Singh further said, “Since aircraft landing gear tyres bear immense friction, pressure, and high-speed load during touchdown, any structural damage necessitates a comprehensive technical and safety inspection before clearance. Consequently, the airline cancelled the aircraft's scheduled onward flight out of Bilaspur to Delhi via Prayagraj.” This would facilitate maintenance checks and tyre replacement, he said.
