Air India Express Flight Makes Safe Emergency Landing at Cochin Airport
KOCHI, Dec 18, 2025 — An Air India Express flight bound for Kozhikode from Jeddah made a dramatic emergency landing at Cochin International Airport early Thursday morning after the crew detected a technical issue with the aircraft’s landing gear. Flight IX 398 was carrying 160 passengers and crew when the problem surfaced mid-air, prompting an urgent diversion to Kochi under full emergency protocols.
The pilot reported suspected damage to the right main landing gear and tyre failure, leading to the precautionary decision to divert. The aircraft touched down safely at 09:07 AM local time, with all emergency services — including fire and rescue teams — positioned along the runway to assist if needed.
According to officials from Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the emergency response was swift and well-coordinated. A post-landing inspection revealed that both right-side tyres had burst, though the exact cause of the failure is still under investigation. Thankfully, there were no injuries to passengers or crew.
Airport authorities temporarily halted other movements on the runway to conduct safety checks. Once the aircraft was secured and the runway cleared, normal operations resumed. Air India Express is working on alternative travel arrangements for those affected, including road transfers to Kozhikode and possible rebooking on later flights.
This incident underscores the importance of vigilant cockpit protocols and readiness of airport emergency teams — factors that together helped avert a potential aviation catastrophe.
