Amid sudden rains, flight veers off runway at Kochi airport
A Doha-Kochi Qatar Airways flight with 306 passengers on board went slightly off the runway after it landed at Kochi airport today due to a sudden downpour and strong crosswinds. A spokesman of the Cochin International Airport said no casualties were reported and no flights were diverted. An investigation is being carried out by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), he said. Here's more.
12 runway lights were damaged in the incident
Official said the weather condition was favorable when the aircraft approached the runway. But a sudden downpour and strong crosswinds caused it to touch down a few metres off the pre-designated central line. The pilot brought the plane back to normal course and then to the parking bay. Twelve runway lights were damaged in incident, he said, adding that the debris was immediately removed.
Fly Dubai and Emirates flights were delayed, says official
A 'Fly Dubai' flight bound for Dubai and an Emirates flight bound for Kochi were delayed for a few minutes, an official said. Following the incident, the return flight to Doha was canceled and the passengers were accommodated on other later flights, he added.
