CHENNAI: Around 160 passengers onboard an IndiGo flight from Jaipur on Saturday were puzzled as the flight took off soon after touching down at Chennai airport. Airport authorities clarified that it was due to the long float of the flight into the runway caused by crosswinds.
The flight touched down at the main runway beyond the threshold point. The alert pilot, realising the flight might not have enough runway space to slow down, decided to take off immediately. However, nothing untoward happened to the passengers in the incident.
The flight (6E265) from Jaipur usually reaches Chennai at 1.05 pm. On Saturday, it arrived a little earlier and was about to land at 12.45pm. However, due to crosswinds, the pilot could not touch down at the start of the runway, and the flight floated in and touched the middle of the runway. The flight took off immediately, went around and landed again at 12.58 pm.
Airport authorities have said only when the flight lands at the threshold point will the pilot have enough runway time to slow down the flight and taxi it to the parking bay.