Flight operations at Mumbai airport resume after authorities move SpiceJet aircraft stuck in mud
As many as 180 flights were cancelled as the main runway was closed for over 25 hours.
Flight operations were restored at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday night, hours after a SpiceJet aircraft stranded for a day at the main runway, was towed away. Airport authorities were forced to cancel 180 flights as the runway was closed for over 25 hours, PTI reported.
On Tuesday night, the SpiceJet flight had overshot the runway amid heavy rain and got stuck in the mud, disrupting operations at the main runway. The Boeing 737 aircraft was finally moved to the hangar around 9.30 pm on Wednesday. A technical team of Air India and the Mumbai International Airport Limited worked together to move the aircraft.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport confirmed that flight operations had been restored. “We apologise for the inconvenience caused to all our passengers,” it said.
#AI team assisting #RescueOperation in removal of #SpiceJet acft from #BOM runway, the only airline in India to offer this type of facility. pic.twitter.com/FClIbUYqtV
— Air India (@airindiain) September 20, 2017
#MumbaiRains - Flight operations have been restored on the main runway. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to all our passengers.
— CSIA (@CSIAMumbai) September 20, 2017
Mumbai recorded 11.63 mm of rainfall from 8 am to 1 pm on Wednesday, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The civic body reported water-logging in parts of the city, including in Hindmata, Sion, Veera Desai Road, Air India Colony, Milan Subway, Andheri Subway, Bandra, Dahisar, Chembur and Mankhurd.
By evening, the city trudged back to life as the downpour stopped. Roads began to clear and local train services got back on track.