Air India Express Flight Returning to Bahrain Makes Emergency U-Turn to Cochin International Airport After Tire Debris Discovery Prompting Urgent Investigation

Published on December 17, 2024

Air India Express Flight IX471 returned to Cochin after tire debris was found on the runway, triggering an investigation into the aircraft’s condition.

Air India Express Flight IX471, operating from Cochin International Airport (COK) to Bahrain International Airport (BAH), was forced to return to Cochin today, December 17, 2024, after tire debris was discovered on the runway shortly after takeoff.

The low-cost carrier, owned by the Tata Group, runs a daily service between Kochi and Bahrain, with Flight IX471 departing Cochin at 5:14 AM UTC (10:44 AM local time). Just after departure, airport personnel informed the Air Traffic Control (ATC) of a tire layer that had detached from the aircraft, prompting immediate action.

Around 40 minutes into the flight, the flight crew received an alert regarding the tire debris, and ATC instructed them to return to Cochin. In compliance, the crew executed a U-turn and performed a low flyover at 200 feet above the ground, allowing ATC to assess the damage.

Airport officials confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the tire issue. Technical experts are inspecting the aircraft to diagnose any mechanical faults that may have led to the incident. Although the flight crew did not declare an emergency, the airport initiated its emergency protocols to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers.

In a similar incident earlier this year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched an investigation into debris found near Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) following an emergency landing by an Air India Express flight on September 2, 2024. Flight IX145, en route from Delhi to Bahrain, encountered a critical engine malfunction shortly after takeoff. The crew managed the situation by following safety procedures and conducting a precautionary landing.

The DGCA is examining metal parts found near the airport, which are believed to be linked to the earlier engine failure. Sources suggest the debris may be from a broken engine blade, though the investigation is ongoing. The aircraft involved in both incidents, a Boeing 737-800, was last in service for 17.2 years and is equipped with CFM56-7B engines, which are now under detailed scrutiny.