A SpiceJet Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft carried out an emergency landing at Mumbai after one of its wheels detached shortly after takeoff from Kandla Airport. The flight, with 75 people on board, landed safely, and no injuries were reported. Here are all the latest details:
đź•’ Incident Timeline
- The flight was operating from Kandla (Gujarat) to Mumbai and departed runway 23 from Kandla at about 2:39 PM on 12 September 2025.
- Shortly after takeoff, Kandla ATC observed a large object falling from the aircraft’s right side—later confirmed to be an outer wheel (rear right main landing gear) along with metal rings.
- The object was recovered from the runway at Kandla.
🚨 Emergency Declared & Safe Landing
- Upon notification, a full emergency was declared at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai. Emergency response teams including fire tenders and rescue services were kept on high alert.
- The aircraft continued to Mumbai instead of returning to Kandla. It landed safely at 3:51 PM on Runway 27, taxied under its own power, and all passengers disembarked normally.
🔍 What Officials & Experts Are Saying
- Authorities from SpiceJet, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and Mumbai airport operator MIAL have affirmed that despite the wheel detachment, there were no casualties and the situation was managed well.
- A former DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) official noted how serious wheel loss is, but pointed out that Q400’s wheel assembly has multiple units. The presence of the remaining wheel likely prevented worse outcomes.
- Possible causes under consideration include issues like locking mechanism failure, under-torqued axle components, or fatigue/failure of retention hardware.
⚠️ Why the Flight Did Not Return to Kandla
- One reason cited by experts is that Mumbai has a much longer runway, which makes for safer landing options under technical distress.
- Also, carrying on to a larger airport with more emergency infrastructure often becomes the safer decision under sudden gear failures.
đź‘Ą Passenger Safety & Aftermath
- All 75 people onboard (passengers + crew) remained safe. There were no injuries.
- Mumbai airport operations were briefly disrupted but resumed normally once the emergency was over.
- SpiceJet confirmed the incident and said the aircraft’s journey was completed safely.
âś… Safety Takeaways & What Happens Next
- The aircraft has likely been grounded for inspection. Maintenance teams will be investigating all landing gear components.
- Regulatory bodies such as the DGCA may conduct a probe to see whether any maintenance lapses or mechanical defects were involved.
- This incident highlights how critical it is for aviation safety oversight, especially with smaller regional aircraft.
🔎 Why This Matters
- Loss of a wheel during takeoff is among the more serious in-flight emergencies because it impacts landing gear integrity and increases risk during landing.
- It can affect public confidence, regulatory scrutiny, and airline reputation—even when the outcome is safe.
- For daily flyers and regional connectivity, such occurrences prompt questions about maintenance, inspection routines, and safety protocols.