The frequent precautionary landings of Air India Express flights have raised concerns about the airworthiness of the aircraft pressed in by the airline for operations.
Over half-a-dozen precautionary landings have been made by the airline in emergency conditions in the first half of this year alone. The landings assume significance considering that the airline is the largest player on West Asian routes from Kerala.
Though the airport operator announced full emergency conditions on each occasion, the airline clarified that each landing was a precautionary one to avoid untoward incidents. During an emergency landing, the pilot who encounters a distress condition declares ‘Mayday’ three times. These are precautionary landings to avoid an uncomfortable situation, sources say.
