Navy's fighter jet makes emergency landing at Mangaluru

MANGALURU/NEW DELHI: A MiG-29K fighter jet of Indian Navy made an emergency landing at Mangaluru airport due to a hydraulic failure and was stuck on the runway for several hours as it suffered a tyre burst.

As many as eight flights were affected as the runway operation was shut completely for about three hours.

"During a routine training sortie, a MIG 29 K fighter aircraft diverted to Mangalore airfield following a hydraulic emergency.

"During the landing the aircraft experienced a tyre burst and couldn't clear off the runway. A second MIG 29K had escorted the aircraft," Navy Spokesperson Captain D K Sharma said.

A recovery team was sent to Mangaluru airport which cleared off the runway around 8 PM.

Several flights were diverted from Mangaluru to Benguluru. Three arrivals and five departures were affected due to the runway closure between 5PM and 8PM, a Manguluru airport official said.

The MiG-29K had taken off from aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and when the pilot suspected hydraulic failure, he decided to divert the aircraft to Manguluru airport and sought its emergency landing.