Air Arabia flight makes emergency landing at Kochi

KOCHI - An Air Arabia flight made an emergency landing at the international airport here 15 minutes after it took off for Sharjah after a suspected bird-hit Tuesday, an official said. All passengers were safe.

The aircraft that departed from here returned after flying for 25 nautical miles at 8.15 p.m. following a suspected bird hit, an official of the Cochin International Airport Ltd said.

“The engineers are examining the aircraft to identify the cause for the snag. According to reports we have received, the aircraft flew for 15 minutes and was forced to return. A bird hit is not being ruled out,” airport director A.C.K. Nair told IANS.

The flight carried 154 passengers and six crew members.

“The engineers will decide on what needs to be done…if everything is fine, the plane will depart. If not, the airline will make necessary arrangements,” Nair said.