An IndiGo flight operating from Kolkata to Patna was forced to circle over Patna for approximately 40 minutes on Friday morning after a tractor used for grass cutting broke down on the runway. The unusual delay occurred at Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport and disrupted the flight’s scheduled arrival time.
The incident, which happened early in the morning, caused a significant delay to the flight’s landing, which was pushed back by nearly 40 minutes due to the obstruction on the runway.
According to an official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), “A tractor, engaged in grass cutting, got stuck alongside the runway within the safety margin of wing clearance of an aircraft from the air traffic controller’s point of view, leading to around 15-20 minutes delay in flight operations on Thursday morning.”
Efforts to Clear the Obstruction
The situation grew more complicated as the tractor, which had gotten stuck in a wet and muddy patch of land near the runway, could not be removed immediately. Initial efforts to clear the tractor with a regular vehicle failed, prompting the use of a heavy excavator. The tractor’s removal took an additional 15 to 20 minutes, further prolonging the delay.
“The tractor collapsed in the wet, muddy area of land, and it took around 15-20 minutes to tow it away,” the AAI official explained.
Passenger Experience During the Delay
As the flight circled above Patna, passengers aboard the IndiGo flight were kept informed about the situation. Dr. Satyajit Sinha, one of the passengers on board, described the communication from the pilot. According to Dr. Sinha, the pilot made several announcements during the wait, explaining the cause of the delay.
“The pilot made an in-flight announcement four times that a tractor had broken down along the runway of Patna Airport as we circled over the airport. That it would be a while before we are able to land; until then we will be flying over Patna,” Dr. Sinha shared.
Flight tracking website Flightstats.com confirmed that IndiGo flight 6E 7085 was delayed by 43 minutes in total.
Cause of the Delay
The breakdown of the tractor, which was part of routine maintenance for the airport, created a temporary obstruction, preventing the flight from landing on time. Although it was a minor technical issue, it highlighted the complex nature of airport operations, where even small incidents can cause significant delays.
