Aviation

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

Kochi: About 102 passengers on board an Air India Express flight had a narrow escape when the aircraft skidded off the runway soon after it touched down at the Cochin International Airport here on Monday. After skidding off, the Abu Dhabi- Kochi flight crossed a drain beside the apron area of the airport, making it difficult for passengers to get out of the aircraft.

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None of the passengers or the six crew members on board the aircraft were injured in the incident, which happened amid heavy rain. A ladder was specially arranged to help all the 102 passengers to disembark the flight.

“All passengers were evacuated through ladder. All safe. No casualties,” a Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) spokesman said.

The nose-wheel of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft also collapsed after it went off the taxiway, an airline source said.

The incident took place at around 2.40 am when the Abu Dhabi-Kochi Air India Express IX 452 approached the parking bay from taxiway after its landing at 2.39 am, the CIAL spokesman said.

Many passengers are still waiting at the airport to collect their luggage, Manorama News reported.

The aircraft has been grounded after the incident, the source said, adding an internal inquiry as well as a probe by the aviation regulator DGCA has been initiated.

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”