Air India Express Pilots Safely Land Flight IX 613 After Mid-Air Hydraulic Failure

Air India Express pilots safely landed Flight IX 613 at Tiruchirapalli after facing a hydraulic failure mid-flight. Quick thinking and professionalism prevented a potential disaster, drawing praise from Tamil Nadu leaders. The Boeing 737 circled for two hours to burn excess fuel before making a safe landing.

Air India Express Flight IX 613's pilots, Captain Iqrom Rifadly Fahmi Zainal and co-pilot Maitryee Shrikrishna Shitole, skillfully handled a hydraulic failure during a flight from Tiruchirapalli to Sharjah, ensuring the safety of 141 passengers. After detecting an issue with the landing gear, the pilots decided to circle the air for two hours to burn off excess fuel, enabling a safe landing back at Tiruchirapalli airport.

The quick response of the pilots drew praise from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Governor R N Ravi, who both acknowledged the calm professionalism of the cockpit and cabin crew. In a social media post, Governor Ravi commended the crew for their courage during a tense situation.

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A senior Boeing pilot explained that, unlike wide-body planes, narrow-body aircraft like the Boeing 737 cannot dump fuel mid-air, so the crew had to fly in circles to reduce the plane’s weight. The incident is under investigation, with no technical issues flagged before takeoff, according to an Air India Express spokesperson.

Emergency teams were quick to respond when the issue was detected at 18:05 pm, and arrangements were made to transfer the passengers to an alternative flight.