Mumbai: A Bangalore-bound Indian Airlines A320 aircraft while taxiing for departure went off the runway into soft ground at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai on October 3.

"The aircraft was on its way to the departure point when the commander reported some technical problem and was returning to the bay when it went off the runway," an airport official said.

There were 61 passengers plus crew on board the flight, the official said adding that the passengers were being off-loaded and would be sent to their destination in another aircraft.

Airport official said the main runway had to be closed and the secondary runway opened within 10 minutes of the incident at around 6 pm.

Several outgoing flights were delayed while some incoming flights, which had aligned themselves for the main runway, also had to go around before they landed on the secondary runway.

The Airbus (call sign VT-EYC) was "using the main runway as the taxi track, normally used for going to the departure point, was under repairs", the official said.

PTI