Question : Incidents of Skid off of Aircraft

(a) whether the Government has taken note that there are incidents of skid off of the Aircraft which occurred in International airport at Mangaluru in Karnataka and Surat in Gujarat and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has set up any enquiry committee to investigate the same and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(c) the precautionary measures taken to ensure the safety of air passengers;

(d) whether there is a need to expand the runway of the international airport at Mangalore and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has received any representation for the expansion of this runway and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government has taken any steps to expand the said runway and if so, the details thereof?

The Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) Yes, Sir. On 30.06.2019, M/s Air India Express B737 aircraft VT-AYA while operating flight from Dubai to Mangaluru met with an incident of runway overrun during landing at Mangaluru. ;
On 30.06.2019, M/s Spicejet Q400 aircraft VT-SUM while operating flight Bhopal to Surat met with an incident of runway overrun during landing at Surat.;

(b) Yes, Sir. Both these occurrences have been classified as serious incidents by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau(AAIB) and are being investigated under Rule 11(1) of the Aircraft (Accident and Incident Investigation) Rules 2017.;

(c) The details of measures taken to ensure air safety are at Annexure A.;

(d) Runway expansion at Mangaluru is not feasible due to huge land fillings, high cost and operational challenges.;

(e) & (f) Yes, Sir. A representation was received from Shri J.R Lobo, Hon''ble MLA, Mangaluru to construct a new runway at Mangaluru airport for wide bodied aircraft proposing to use the existing runway for smaller aircrafts. The proposal was not found feasible owing to ''dependent operation'' of the proposed new runway on the existing runway, rehabilitation of project affected parties and high cost of construction. It was found that despite these interventions the runway capacity would be enhanced marginally only.