Air India Flight Skids Off Mumbai Runway Amid Heavy Rain: All Passengers Safe, Secondary Runway Activated
On July 21, 2025, Air India flight AI2744 from Kochi veered off the runway during a rain-soaked landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), resulting in a heart-stopping incident. Fighting strong monsoon showers, the Airbus A320 skidded off Runway 27, briefly going into an unpaved area before coming to a stop on a taxiway. Fortunately, none of the 136 passengers or crew were hurt, but the plane was damaged and the main runway was closed for a while. This near-miss has raised serious concerns about aviation safety and monsoon readiness as Mumbai struggles with unrelenting rain, necessitating a closer examination of what went wrong and what lies ahead.
The A320 (VT-TYA), a four-year-old aircraft that had previously flown for Vistara, had trouble maintaining traction after landing at 9:27 AM. The runway excursion was facilitated by the dangerous conditions caused by the heavy rain, which saw 115 mm fall overnight in Mumbai’s suburbs. The engine cowling was damaged, most likely from contact with soft terrain or debris, and three tires burst. A potential disaster was avoided when the experienced pilot recovered control and taxied the aircraft safely to a parking bay in spite of the chaos. Captain Sai Krishna Kumar highlighted the pilot’s ability to maneuver a wet runway with little traction by saying, “This could have ended worse, with the aircraft at its weakest just after touchdown.”
The emergency response teams at CSMIA jumped right in, handling the aftermath and guaranteeing passenger safety. Due to minor damage and cracks, the main runway (09/27) had to be closed for inspections and repairs. One of the busiest single-runway airports in the world experienced minimal disruptions when the secondary runway (14/32) was activated to maintain flight operations. A CSMIA representative underlined that “safety remains our highest priority,” adding that every passenger got off the plane unharmed. Early reports suggested that weather-related issues were the cause of the incident, and the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched an investigation to find out why Air India grounded the aircraft for extensive inspections.
The incident occurred during India’s monsoon season, which has increased scrutiny of aviation safety procedures in the wake of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad last month. The operational risks of wet runways are highlighted by Mumbai’s intense rainfall, which resulted in waterlogging and traffic jams throughout the city. Airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet have issued travel advisories in response to the India Meteorological Department’s orange alert for ongoing showers, which portends more difficulties. There are still concerns about whether improved runway upkeep or more stringent landing procedures could stop similar incidents in the future as the DGCA’s investigation progresses.
Even though there were no casualties, this incident serves as a clear reminder of the dangers that severe weather poses to aircraft. Will the results change safety protocols, or will this be just another warning that goes unheeded? The country waits for answers as Mumbai’s skies continue to be turbulent.
