Aircraft tyres burst after landing at IGIA,all passengers safe

A team of engineers was examining the aircraft,which was to be towed to the parking bay. An inquiry into the incident has been ordered.

Airport sources said the flight UL 195 from Colombo to New Delhi was scheduled to land at 5.50 pm. Sources said the pilot informed the ATC,minutes before landing,that he suspected that the tyre had burst and that it wasn’t possible to land the aircraft.

Emergency services were immediately put in place,following which the ATC asked the pilot to do a low flying pass for the ground staff to check the possibility of landing.

In a low flying pass,the pilot is asked to fly at a lower height so that the ground staff can inspect the aircraft.

Airport sources said the ground staff told the ATC that the tyre had not burst,but tyre pressure was too low. The ground staff then asked ATC to clear the flight for landing.

The aircraft landed at IGIA at 6.55 pm. However,two of the rear tyres burst when the aircraft began taxiing from the runway to the parking bay.

Airport sources said passengers were made to deboard on the taxiway,while an emergency handling team examined the aircraft and the taxiway.

The taxiway remained blocked till late evening.