Saudi 747 lands in closed section of runway
CHENNAI, MARCH 13. A Saudi Airlines Jumbo-747 jet with 126 passengers aboard this morning landed in the ``runway area closed for maintenance'' at the Anna international terminal here, damaging two lights. The jet from Riyadh suffered ``fissures in the left and right wing flaps and tyres''.
The aircraft approaching from the Pallavaram-end (Runway 07 end), landed in the ``unserviceable threshold area''. The premature landing in the closed 570-metre area of the main runway gave anxious moments to air traffic controllers and airport managers.
Immediately after touchdown, the pilot taxied the plane to the allotted parking bay. Regional authorities of airworthiness and air safety have grounded the jet. Riyadh-bound passengers from Chennai have been accommodated in city hotels. Arrangements were being made to send them by another aircraft.
The incident took place even after a Notice to Airmen was issued by the national airports division of the Airports Authority of India, intimating the global operators of the closure of the area of the runway.