An Air India Express flight, AXB 613, heading to Sharjah from Tiruchirappalli, safely landed back at the Tiruchirappalli airport after experiencing a hydraulic failure shortly after take-off. The aircraft, carrying 141 passengers, took off at 5:40 pm on Friday, and after the issue was reported, it circled the area to burn fuel before making a precautionary landing at 8:15 pm.

Airport authorities had prepared for an emergency landing, with 20 ambulances and 18 fire engines on standby. However, the plane touched down smoothly to applause from passengers. The Civil Aviation Minister praised the swift response of the emergency teams and confirmed that a thorough investigation will be conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to identify the cause of the hydraulic snag. In the meantime, alternative arrangements for the passengers were made.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also held an emergency meeting and directed officials to ensure all necessary safety measures were in place.

An Air India Express spokesperson clarified that no emergency was declared by the crew and that the precautionary landing followed standard protocols.