In an unexpected turn of events, an Indian Navy MiG-29K fighter aircraft suffered a tyre burst just before its routine sortie on December 26 at Dabolim airport in Goa. The incident, though causing the aircraft to be stuck on the taxiway, thankfully resulted in no injuries.
The immediate response involved the activation of the fire department and other emergency services to address the situation. As a precautionary measure, authorities decided to close the runway at Dabolim airport until 4 p.m., impacting passenger flight services.
According to a navy spokesperson, the single-pilot MiG-29K aircraft will be relocated off the taxiway once the necessary procedures are carried out. The incident occurred during the aircraft’s taxi on the way to its routine sortie.
Dabolim airport, part of the naval base INS Hansa, is crucial for both civilian and military operations. The naval aircraft, including MiG-29Ks, utilize the facility at specific times of the day.
A senior official from Dabolim airport explained that the closure of the runway until 4 p.m. affected airport operations and led to the rerouting of ten flights. Some of these flights were redirected to Mopa’s Manohar International Airport as an alternative.
