Shimla, March 25,
Alliance Air has refuted media reports suggesting an emergency landing of Flight 9I-821 operating on the Delhi-Shimla sector. In an official statement, Alliance Air, confirmed that the aircraft made a normal landing at Shimla, and the crew identified a technical issue only during a routine post-landing inspection.
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“Alliance Air affirms that the aircraft landed normally at Shimla Airport. During the routine post-landing inspection, the crew observed a technical issue, following which the decision was made to ground the aircraft purely as a precautionary measure to prioritize passenger safety,” stated a company official.
To ensure thorough safety checks, Alliance Air proactively cancelled upcoming flights on the route for a comprehensive inspection. The ATR-42 aircraft, which operates daily flights between Delhi, Shimla, and Dharamshala, will resume operations as soon as all necessary safety protocols are completed.
“Our engineering team is actively working on the aircraft, and we aim to resume operations at the earliest while maintaining the highest safety standards,” he added. Reiterating that safety remains the airline’s foremost priority and that passengers’ well-being is of paramount importance.
Addressing statements made by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who was on board the flight, Alliance air acknowledged that technical details may not always be apparent to passengers. “A technical assessment requires thorough inspection and expertise, and based on our findings, we have taken appropriate measures,” he claimed.
Alliance Air regrets any inconvenience caused due to the temporary flight cancellations but assures its passengers of continued commitment to safe and efficient operations, added the company official.
Also read: Mishap averted at Shimla’s Jubbarhatti airport as Alliance Air flight faces technical glitch
On Monday Jubbarhatti Airport’s officiating director, KP Singh, had also confirmed that the aircraft took off from Delhi following routine checks, with no prior issues reported.
Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi had clarified that there was an issue with the deceleration mechanism, which made it challenging to slow down after touchdown. However, the pilots followed standard operating procedures to manage the situation effectively, ensuring passenger safety at all times.
Table top Shimla Airport is considered among world’s most challenging runways which was established in 1987 and is built on 109 acres of land. Authorities have assured that a thorough review is being conducted to reinforce safety measures and prevent any recurrence.
Here it is pertinent to mention that the Himachal Government has been constantly pressing upon the Centre to plan an expansion of this airport, so that even bigger planes can be landed here. Even the local Member of Parliament has raised this issue in the Parliament, number of times.
