Tyre failure diverts Jeddah-Kozhikode Air India express flight

An Air India Express flight operating from Jeddah to Kozhikode with 160 passengers on board was diverted to Cochin International Airport on Thursday following a suspected tyre failure, airline and airport officials said. The aircraft landed safely at Kochi at around 9.07 am, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.

According to Air India Express, the diversion was carried out as a precaution after the flight crew noticed a possible tyre issue , believed to have been caused by a foreign object on the runway at Jeddah airport. The airline clarified that there was no problem with the landing gear and that only the tyres were affected. After landing, all passengers disembarked safely and were transported to Kozhikode by road.

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), however, described the arrival as an emergency landing, stating that full emergency protocols were activated in advance as a safety measure. Airport authorities confirmed that post-landing inspections revealed that both right-side tyres of the aircraft had burst. The runway was inspected and cleared soon after, allowing normal operations to resume.

Air India Express maintained that the landing was precautionary rather than an emergency, explaining that Kochi was chosen instead of Kozhikode’s Karipur airport because Karipur is a tabletop runway. Officials indicated that, in cases involving suspected tyre damage, airlines prefer airports with longer runways, wider safety margins and more extensive emergency and technical support facilities.

Although Kozhikode and Kochi are both coastal airports and relatively close to each other, aviation experts note that diversion decisions are guided less by geography and more by operational safety considerations. Tabletop runways, such as the one at Kozhikode, have limited overrun areas, making them less suitable for abnormal or precautionary landings. Kochi’s longer runway and advanced rescue and firefighting infrastructure offer a safer environment for handling aircraft with technical concerns.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused and reiterated that passenger safety remains its highest priority. Authorities are expected to carry out further technical checks on the aircraft, while the suspected foreign object damage at Jeddah will be examined as part of routine safety procedures.