Air India’s Mumbai Flight Accident Highlights Safety Lapses, Passengers Raise Concerns

#News Bureau July 22,2025

Air India Mumbai Runway Scare: An Air India aircraft narrowly avoided a major disaster during an emergency landing in Mumbai. The plane skidded off the runway, three tires burst, and the engine was damaged. A series of such recent incidents has raised serious concerns among passengers.

Another Air India flight narrowly escaped an accident. On Monday morning, during an emergency landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), three tires of flight AI-2744 burst.

According to a report by the Times of India, the Air India A320 flight from Kochi to Mumbai skidded while landing on Runway 27 amid heavy rainfall. The aircraft veered off the main runway into a non-runway area before coming to a halt on a taxiway. Some reports also suggest that the aircraft’s engine sustained damage. Fortunately, all passengers and crew members are safe, and no casualties have been reported. However, this incident has sparked fresh concerns among air travelers, as news of flight-related mishaps continues to surface almost daily across the country.

Air India’s Statement on the Incident
Flight AI-2744 was landing at Mumbai airport at 9:27 AM when it skidded off the runway due to heavy rain. Sources stated that three tires burst during the landing. Preliminary inspections have also indicated potential engine damage. An Air India spokesperson said in a statement:
“Flight AI-2744, operating from Kochi to Mumbai on July 21, 2025, encountered heavy rain during landing, resulting in runway skidding. The aircraft reached the gate safely, and all passengers and crew members disembarked without any harm. The aircraft has been grounded for a detailed inspection. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority.”

Mumbai Airport Statement and Rising Aviation Concerns

Mumbai Airport issued a statement saying, “On July 21, 2025, at 9:27 AM, a flight arriving from Kochi skidded off the runway at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. CSMIA’s emergency response teams were immediately deployed. All passengers and crew are safe. Runway 09/27 sustained minor damage, and to maintain smooth operations, the secondary runway 14/32 has been activated.”

Growing Concerns Over Air Travel Safety

This incident has further deepened concerns about aviation safety in India. Only recently, the Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, shocked the entire nation. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating flight AI171 to London-Gatwick, crashed just 30 seconds after takeoff due to a sudden fuel cutoff to the engines. Out of 242 passengers and crew, only one passenger, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, miraculously survived. On the ground, 19 people were killed, and several buildings, including the BJ Medical College hostel, were severely damaged.

Since then, reports of technical malfunctions and emergency landings involving Air India and IndiGo flights have repeatedly surfaced. For example, on June 24, 2025, 11 passengers and crew members aboard flight AI-130 from London to Mumbai suffered dizziness and vomiting, which was linked to food poisoning. On June 15, 2025, a passenger, @Dr_MonikaSingh_, complained on social media about a five-hour ordeal on flight IX196 from Dubai to Jaipur due to faulty air conditioning.

Findings from the Ahmedabad Crash

The preliminary investigation of the June 12 Ahmedabad crash revealed that both fuel control switches of the Boeing 787-8 moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” mode just after takeoff, cutting off fuel supply to the engines. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?” to which the other replied, “I didn’t.” This mysterious occurrence has sparked debates over potential human error, technical malfunction, or design flaws. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu recently criticized certain foreign media outlets for trying to blame the pilots without sufficient evidence.

Past incidents, such as the Air India Express flight 1344 runway overrun in Kozhikode (August 2020) and the crash of flight 812 in Mangalore (2010), have further highlighted ongoing gaps in India’s aviation safety standards.

Safety Measures and Public Concerns

The Mumbai incident has once again put the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation under pressure. The DGCA has launched an investigation, and the aircraft involved has been grounded for detailed checks. Experts suggest that heavy rain, runway conditions, and tire performance could have played a role in the mishap. However, there is a pressing need to strengthen bird-strike prevention measures, enhance maintenance standards, and improve pilot training across Indian airports.

Government and Airline Response

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has assured the public that aviation safety remains the government’s top priority and that the incident will undergo a thorough investigation. Air India has pledged full assistance to affected passengers, and Tata Group, the airline’s parent company, has also promised complete cooperation in the inquiry.

Nevertheless, the increasing frequency of such incidents is damaging India’s aviation reputation. To restore passenger confidence, both the government and airlines must take immediate action to upgrade aircraft maintenance, improve airport infrastructure, and enhance emergency response systems.