Air India plane returns to Kathmandu airport after pilots hear noise

An Air India aircraft that was scheduled to fly to Delhi returned to Kathmandu airport on Saturday evening after the pilots heard a noise while taking off, according to an airline official. The incident occurred on November 25, 2022.

Representative image

Unserviceable Door

In addition to the noise, it was noticed after boarding passengers that a door in the aircraft was unserviceable. The plane was cleared for take-off after following necessary airworthiness protocols. An airline spokesperson on Sunday said the two issues were not related and at no point was safety compromised.

Precautionary Measure

While a tail strike was suspected as the plane returned, it was later confirmed that there was no tail strike. The official said the pilots had decided to return as they heard a noise during take-off and had suspected a possible tail strike. The A321 aircraft operated the flight to Delhi on Sunday morning without any issues.

Statement from Air India

AI 216 from Kathmandu to Delhi on November 25 experienced an unserviceable door after boarding was completed. All necessary airworthiness protocols were carried out and the aircraft was cleared for take-off. While taking off, the pilots suspected a tail strike and as a measure of precaution, decided to turn back in accordance with safety protocols. It was later confirmed that there was no tail strike.

The incident highlights the importance of safety protocols in the aviation industry. The pilots' decision to return to Kathmandu airport was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew. The airline has conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and has taken steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.