A Mikoyan MiG-29K fighter jet skidded off a runway at Dabolim Goa International Airport (GOI) after suffering a bust tyre just before it was about to perform a routine sortie on December 26, 2023.
An Indian navy spokesperson told local media that the airport’s fire brigade arrived immediately after the incident. No injuries were reported.
The fighter jet was stranded on the airport’s only runway prompting the airfield to close temporarily.
Operations were disrupted and the runway was shut until 16:00 local time. A total of 16 flights were diverted and delayed.
“As a result of the incident, the airport runway has been shut for operations till 4 pm. The services of 10 flights were affected. Some flights were diverted to the Manohar International Airport at Mopa,” S V T Dhanamjaya, Dabolim airport’s Director, told local media outlet The Deccan Herald.
Located in South Goa district, GOI is part of INS Hansa, India’s biggest naval air base. At certain times of the day, the airport is used by naval aircraft. It is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as a civil enclave.