Pvt plane skids off runway at Mumbai Airport; crew and six passengers hurt

A private Learjet 45 from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai skidded off the runway at Mumbai's domestic airport and subsequently crashed during its landing, injuring eight people who were onboard. The incident occurred at around 5 pm. The flight had six passengers and two crew members on board. Three passengers have been admitted to CritiCare Asia Hospital in Andheri East, where attending doctors have reported that they have sustained superficial injuries but remain in a state of shock.

The individuals aboard the aircraft - with registration VT-DBL, operated by M/s VSR Ventures - were identified as follows: Captain Sunil (Pilot in Command), Captain Neil (First Officer), Dhruv Kotak, Lars Sorensen, K K Krishnadas, Aakarsh Shethi, Arul Sali, and Kamakshi. Once the incident was reported, the Mumbai Fire Brigade, ambulances, and airport emergency vehicles rushed to the runway to rescue all the passengers and crew members from the aircraft. The aircraft was found broken in the middle after it crashed.

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Sources at CritiCare Asia Hospital told mid-day, "Several individuals have suffered multiple fractures. Both pilots have sustained lumbar spine fractures. Capt. Niel Diwan is paralysed in both legs, while the other pilot has a lumbar spine fracture but no paralysis." A fire brigade official told mid-day, "We rushed to the spot with our team of 30 people. We cut the cockpit with the hydraulic mental cutter machine. It took us 30 minutes till then the pilots were stuck in cockpit."

A spokesperson from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) provided an official statement, saying, "The runway has been reopened for operations after receiving clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) at 18:47 following thorough safety checks."

CSMIA's airside team on the ground assisting with on-site clearance

Expert comment: Aviation expert Capt. Mohan Ranganathan offered insights, saying, "It appears that the runway was wet, possibly due to rain. I've observed that many corporate aircraft pilots lack proper training for wet runway operations. They often skip the essential approach and landing accident reduction training that is mandatory for airline pilots. This training is of utmost importance. Additionally, we should investigate whether the runway conditions meet safety standards."

Advocate Yaeshwant Shenoy, said, "Mumbai's runway is renowned for its ability to operate even in wet conditions. This is a known risk at the airport, and they are accepting this risk knowingly. I have submitted a comprehensive application to the Bombay High Court and have also communicated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA to reconsider operational criteria, particularly for wet
runway conditions."

3
No of people admitted to hospital