IndiGo aircraft makes low pass before safe landing in Pune after landing gear glitch

A routine journey to Guwahati turned into an emergency situation on Sunday morning after an IndiGo aircraft carrying 192 people was forced to return to Pune when its landing gear failed to retract shortly after take-off.

The incident involved IndiGo flight 6E 0623, which was scheduled to operate from Pune to Guwahati on November 15.

The aircraft, bearing registration number VT-IZE, encountered a technical snag soon after departure, leaving its landing gear extended.

With the malfunction preventing the aircraft from continuing its journey as planned, the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) and sought permission to return.

The situation prompted airport authorities to activate emergency response protocols.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which manages Pune airport, declared a full emergency, putting firefighting units, ambulances and other emergency personnel on standby.

The response was coordinated to ensure that the aircraft could return safely and that immediate assistance would be available in case of any eventuality.

Aircraft makes low pass before landing

Before attempting to land, the aircraft conducted a low pass over the runway. The manoeuvre allowed ground personnel to visually examine the landing gear and assess its condition before the aircraft touched down.

The aircraft eventually landed safely at Pune airport at 9.04 am, bringing the emergency to a controlled end. Three firefighting vehicles and two ambulances escorted it to Bay No. 7.

After authorities confirmed the aircraft was in safe, normal condition, ATC withdrew the full emergency at 9.10 am.

An aerobridge was subsequently positioned alongside the aircraft, allowing passengers and crew members to disembark. All 192 people on board, including passengers and crew, were reported safe. No injuries were recorded.

IndiGo arranges alternative aircraft

Following the incident, IndiGo began arranging an alternative aircraft from Bengaluru to Pune so passengers could continue their journey to Guwahati.

An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed that flight 6E 623 had returned to its point of origin after a technical issue was detected shortly after take-off.

The aircraft was taken up for maintenance inspections, with further operations subject to the necessary clearances.

The airline said it was keeping affected passengers informed and offering assistance in the form of meals, refreshments, alternative flight arrangements and refunds, wherever applicable.

While the aircraft's return prevented the technical snag from escalating into a more serious incident, the episode once again brought attention to the emergency procedures that come into play when an aircraft encounters a technical problem after take-off.