Cochin (CIAL): An Air India Express flight from Jeddah to Calicut made an emergency landing at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) on Thursday after a technical issue caused its landing gear to fail and both tyres to burst.

The aircraft was carrying 160 passengers, all of whom are reported to be safe. Authorities confirmed that the pilot detected the problem and immediately requested an emergency landing at Cochin. Rescue teams, including the CISF and the airport fire service, were deployed as a precaution. 

The aircraft touched down safely at 09:07 am under full emergency protocols.

"All emergency services were activated in advance, and there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew. Post-landing inspection confirmed that both right-side tyres had burst," a CIAL spokesperson said.

An Air India Express spokesperson added, “Our Jeddah-Kozhikode flight was diverted to Kochi and made a precautionary landing due to suspected damage to the aircraft’s tyre likely caused by a foreign object on the runway at Jeddah airport. The aircraft landed safely in Kochi, and all guests are being connected to Kozhikode by road. We regret the inconvenience caused and reiterate that safety remains our highest priority in every aspect of our operations.”

The incident may cause delays for other flights as the runway undergoes thorough safety checks.