Air India plane rolls into drain at Kochi airport

An Abu Dhabi-Kochi Air India Express flight has veered off the taxiway and rolled into a drain after landing at Kochi at 2:40am on Tuesday, according to NDTV and other Indian media. Flight IX452 was carrying 102 passengers and six crew members on board when the incident occurred. “All passengers were evacuated through a ladder and are safe. There are no casualties,” a Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) spokesperson said. Airport sources said the plane took a turn too soon - about 90 metres before it was supposed to – when approaching the parking bay and went off track. The nose-wheel of the aircraft collapsed and a wheel was stuck in what appeared to be a drain. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft has been grounded. An internal inquiry has begun and the Indian aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation has initiated an investigation.