PTI | Nov 26, 2023, 08:17 PM IST
An Air India flight destined for Delhi had to return to Kathmandu on Saturday evening after pilots detected a concerning noise during take-off, according to an airline official.
The pilots made the decision to turn back due to the suspected noise, fearing a potential tail strike. Additionally, before take-off, it was observed, after passengers had boarded, that a door in the aircraft was unserviceable. Despite the door issue, the plane underwent necessary airworthiness checks and was initially cleared for take-off.
An airline spokesperson clarified on Sunday that the two incidents were unrelated, and safety was never compromised at any point.
Although the pilots suspected a tail strike during take-off, subsequent inspections revealed that there was, in fact, no tail strike, as confirmed by the spokesperson.
After thorough checks, the A321 aircraft successfully operated the flight to Delhi on Sunday morning.
"AI 216 from Kathmandu to Delhi on Nov 26 experienced an unserviceable door after boarding was completed. All necessary airworthiness protocols were carried out, and the aircraft was cleared for take-off," stated the spokesperson.
While the initial suspicion of a tail strike prompted the return to Kathmandu, it was later confirmed that no such incident had occurred, emphasizing the cautionary nature of the decision made by the flight crew in adherence to safety protocols
