Patna: A major mishap was averted after a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai suffered a tyre burst while landing at Darbhanga airport on Monday morning. The crew safely brought the aircraft to a halt and all around 150 passengers were evacuated without injury.Airport sources said the incident occurred around 10am, shortly after flight SG-115 touched down. The damaged wheel dragged along the runway for some distance, causing strong vibrations and jolts inside the aircraft and triggering panic among passengers. However, the pilot remained in control and stopped the aircraft safely. Airport officials and emergency teams reached the spot and passengers were deboarded without incident.An airport official said the airport authority’s jurisdiction is limited to the terminal area, while the airside is managed by the Indian Air Force. “We were informed there was some issue with the aircraft’s tyre after landing. The exact cause is yet to be confirmed, and it is not clear whether the damage was due to a hard landing or any other technical reason,” the official said.The official added the aircraft remained grounded while a replacement tyre was arranged. “A replacement tyre was being brought on another flight from Delhi, following which the aircraft will undergo the necessary repairs before it is cleared for departure,” the official said.The incident also disrupted flight operations. An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Darbhanga was diverted to Patna after it could not secure a parking bay because the SpiceJet aircraft remained stranded on the apron.The IndiGo flight departed Delhi on schedule at 1.18pm and reached Darbhanga airspace around 3pm. However, it remained airborne for nearly 20 minutes, making six go-arounds while awaiting clearance. As the parking issue persisted, it was diverted to Patna, where it landed safely and remained on the ground for around 30 minutes.The diversion caused anxiety among passengers waiting at Darbhanga airport to board the return IndiGo flight to Delhi as they received no immediate update on the aircraft’s arrival. After the brief halt in Patna, the aircraft departed at around 4.13pm and landed safely at Darbhanga airport at approximately 4.34pm.
