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Scary: Prior to departure from Mumbai airport, the GoAir aircraft had reported a minor snag that was later cleared by technicians. representation pic

Panic loomed large at Mumbai and Delhi airports yesterday afternoon after an aircraft dropped its nose wheel assembly part near the runway in Mumbai before taking off for the capital.

That part helps in the safe take-off and landing of an aircraft.

A GoAir flight, Airbus A320 (G8456), flying with 125 passengers took off from Mumbai at 2.10 pm. Minutes later, a bird-scarer on duty saw an object lying on a grassy patch beyond the runway intersection and informed the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Everyone's worried
 
After the authorities realised what part had fallen off, they were left worrying until the aircraft landed safely in Delhi at 5 pm. Said Arun Arora, spokesperson, Delhi International Airport Limited, "The aircraft made a safe landing and was cleared off the runway immediately."

An official from the Mumbai airport said, "Upon examination, we found that the aircraft had dropped a nose wheel assembly part, which opens and retracts as required while take-off and landing."

Aviation expert Vipul Saxena said that an Airbus A320 has two-nose wheel assembly parts. "Landing with single nose wheel assembly (as done in this case) calls for great caution and piloting technique to make a safe landing," he said.

Possible reason

Saxena informed that in 2005, a similar incident had occurred at Gatwick airport in UK due to partial seizure of outer wheel bearing.

"The pilot must have noticed the faulty performance of the nose wheel before taking off. A detailed investigation can only reveal if the snag was reported and any maintenance work was done," Saxena added.

Sources at Mumbai airport said that prior to departure, the aircraft had reported a minor snag that was later cleared by technicians. A GoAir spokesperson confirmed the incident, but did not comment further. The Director General of Civil Aviation said it will conduct an enquiry into the incident.