AAI aircraft belly-lands at Rajkot airport, no injuries

A Dorneir aircraft of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) made a belly landing at the Rajkot airport on Wednesday afternoon, as its wheels did not open up due to a technical snag. All nine crew members of the plane escaped unhurt in the accident.

According to information, the Dorneir 228, carrying nine persons of the AAI, was on a routine inspection of the electronic equipment of the Rajkot airport.

Meanwhile, two flights "" IC 7145 of the Indian Airlines and Jet 356, operating between Mumbai and Rajkot "" had to be cancelled on Wednesday, following the crash landing.

Passengers of the Mumbai-Rajkot-Mumbai Jet flight and the Mumbai-Rajkot-Vadodara-Mumbai Indian Airlines flight were shifted to Ahmedabad, from Rajkot and Vadodara, from where alternative arrangements were made.

The aircraft is still reported to be on the runway and would soon be inspected by a team from the Director General Civil Aviation, an official said.

He said preliminary investigation revealed the aircraft had to be landed on its belly after the wheels failed to open during landing.

A detailed investigation is on, officials added.