Farrukhabad, India: A private jet operated by Jetserve Aviation Pvt Ltd skidded off the runway during takeoff at Mohammadabad airstrip in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad district on Thursday. All six people onboard, including two pilots and four passengers, escaped unhurt.
The aircraft, registered as VT-DEZ, reportedly veered off the runway and came to rest in nearby grass after skidding for nearly 400 metres. The incident occurred around noon when the jet was preparing to depart from the unregulated airstrip.
According to reports, those onboard included Ajay Arora, Deputy Managing Director of Woodpecker Greenagri Nutrients Pvt Ltd; Sumit Sharma of the State Bank of India; Rakesh Tikku, Vice President (Operations); and Manish Kumar Pandey, the company’s Uttar Pradesh project head. The flight was being piloted by Nasib Baman and Prateek Fernandes.
While no injuries were reported, the aircraft sustained minor structural damage, particularly in the nose section, which appeared to have tilted into the soil following the runway excursion.
Officials said that low tyre pressure may have contributed to the incident. According to NDTV, local authorities stated that the pilot was aware of reduced tyre pressure prior to takeoff but proceeded nonetheless.
Officials from the district administration and the local police reached the scene shortly after the incident to inspect the site. The fire brigade was not informed in advance about the scheduled flight, and there were claims that the required treasury fees for airstrip use had not been deposited.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the runway excursion and assess whether standard safety procedures were followed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to review technical and operational aspects once the aircraft is recovered.
