GoAir jet lands outside airstrip in Bengaluru

MUMBAI: About 185 people on board a GoAir flight from Nagpur had a miraculous escape earlier on Monday after their aircraft touched down at Bengaluru airport runway, only to speed straight off the end into unpaved ground from where the A320 Neo jet accelerated and lifted off again, leaving behind a trail of flattened grass blades. The aircraft then circled over Bengaluru, but poor visibility forced the pilots to divert to Hyderabad where it landed safely.
The incident occurred around 7.30 am after GoAir flight G8-811 carrying 180 passengers, with an expat pilotin-command, was cleared to land on runway 09 of Bengaluru airport.
“Due to poor visibility at Bengaluru, the pilots aborted the landing and initiated a go-around,” said a Directorate General of Civil Aviation official, adding, “After landing at Hyderabad, mud deposits were observed on left main landing gear indicating the aircraft had rolled onto unpaved surface.” Director general of civil aviation Arun Kumar said the crew has been grounded, adding, “Aircraft has been grounded in Hyderabad for probe.”