Patna: A major aviation mishap was narrowly avoided at Darbhanga Airport on Monday after a SpiceJet flight arriving from Mumbai suffered a tyre burst while landing. The aircraft was brought to a safe stop by the flight crew, and all approximately 150 passengers on board were evacuated without injury.
The incident also disrupted flight operations at the airport, resulting in the diversion of an IndiGo flight to Patna and delays caused by a separate technical fault in an Akasa Air aircraft.
Tyre Burst During Landing
According to airport sources, the SpiceJet Mumbai-Darbhanga flight experienced a tyre burst at around 10 am shortly after touching down on the runway.
The damaged wheel reportedly dragged along the runway for some distance, causing vibrations and jolts inside the aircraft. The sudden impact created panic among passengers, but the pilot maintained control of the aircraft and brought it to a safe halt.
Passengers Evacuated Safely
Airport security personnel and ground staff immediately responded to the incident.
All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft, and no injuries were reported. The aircraft was later shifted to the apron, where engineers began a detailed technical inspection.
IndiGo Flight Diverted to Patna
The incident affected aircraft parking capacity at Darbhanga Airport as the SpiceJet aircraft remained stationed on the apron until around 6:30 pm.
As a precaution, an IndiGo flight arriving from Delhi was diverted to Patna because apron space was unavailable. After normal operations resumed, the aircraft later flew from Patna to Darbhanga before departing for Delhi with passengers.
Akasa Air Technical Snag Adds to Disruptions
Airport operations were further affected after an Akasa Air flight arriving from Mumbai developed a technical fault that required inspection.
With both the SpiceJet and Akasa Air aircraft occupying apron space, airport operations remained constrained throughout the day. According to airport sources, both aircraft are expected to remain at Darbhanga overnight, which could lead to further disruptions to scheduled flights on Tuesday.
Technical Inspection Underway
Airport authorities said technical inspections of both aircraft are in progress.
The aircraft will be cleared for operations only after engineers certify them as airworthy. Passengers have been advised to check the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before travelling.
