New Delhi: Both pilots of a private jet are critically injured after it skidded off the runway and crashed while landing at Mumbai airport amid heavy rains on Thursday evening, September 14, the Indian Express reported.
After the incident, the runway at Mumbai airport was closed, and all flights were diverted to Goa and Ahmedabad, the report added.
“VSR Ventures Learjet 45 aircraft VT-DBL operating flight from Vizag [Visakhapatnam] to Mumbai was involved in runway excursion (veer off) while landing on runway 27 at Mumbai airport. There were 06 passengers and 02 crew member on board. Visibility was 700 metres with heavy rain,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement.
The daily reported that four passengers, including the pilots, are receiving treatment at Criticare Hospital in Juhu.
An official told IE that when a plane typically lands on Runway Number 27, it usually proceeds towards Juhu. However, the plane’s direction changed due to the swing and it turned 180 degrees.
The airport official further told the daily that flights had to be diverted to other cities, as one runway is used each day at the airport.