AI flight loses wheel, women pilots save 48 on board

Jun 11, 2012 - MANOJ ANAND |

Age Correspondent

A major air tragedy was averted and precious lives of at least 48 passengers onboard were saved when an Air India Flight made an emergency landing here at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport following a glitch in the landing gear on Sunday morning.

Captain Urmila and her co-pilot Yashu of Guwahati-bound ATR 9760 flight from Silchar to Guwahati noticed serious problem in the flight’s landing gear and discovered that the nose wheel of the flight had detached during takeoff from Silchar airport.
Panic prevailed soon after the air traffic control at the LGB International Airport, Guwahati, received the report and an emergency landing alert was sounded. However, the pilots managed to land the aircraft safely.
Narrating the event, which has put the state authorities also into a tizzy, sources in the Airport Authority of India said that all the 48 passengers and four crew members were safe.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who was also keeping a close watch over the developments, congratulated Captain Urmila and her co-pilot Yashu of the Guwahati-bound ATR 9760 flight from Silchar for averting a mishap and saving the precious lives of 48 passengers on board.
Mr Gogoi spoke to Captain Urmila over the phone and conveyed his thanks to her and co-pilot Yashu for showing alacrity, courage and dexterity by landing the flight safely at LGBI airport even one of its front wheels fell off during takeoff from Silchar airport. “Hats off to you and your co-pilot for your daring and courageous act which saved the precious lives of the passengers,” said Mr Gogoi.

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