Nagpur: After remaining grounded for nearly six years, the Air India Boeing 777 aircraft stranded at Nagpur Airport is finally preparing to take to the skies, even as the city’s airport authorities on Monday conducted a full-scale mock drill simulating an air crash emergency, underscoring renewed focus on aviation safety and preparedness.
The Boeing 777 aircraft (registration VT-AL), which arrived in Nagpur in February 2020 for routine maintenance, successfully completed its ground run on Monday, clearing a major milestone. A test flight is scheduled within the next 2–3 days, likely between February 11 and 13, sources from Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) confirmed.
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From one-month job to six-year wait
The aircraft had been brought to AIESL’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at MIHAN-SEZ for servicing that was initially expected to take just a month. However, the process stretched into years as parts from the aircraft were repeatedly removed and installed on other Boeing 777s in Air India’s fleet, resulting in multiple extensions and prolonged grounding.
With restoration finally nearing completion, extensive preparatory work was carried out at the MRO. This included full aircraft weighing on February 4, verification of all maintenance task cards, and a detailed inspection of the airframe, wings, fuselage and landing gear. Engineers also checked cowling, panels and fasteners, followed by comprehensive system functional tests.
Safety checks included inspections for fuel, oil and hydraulic leaks, cabin pressurisation tests, fire detection and protection systems, emergency slides, oxygen systems and avionics.
The upcoming test flight will be passenger-free and will assess takeoff performance, climb, control response, autopilot systems, avionics and landing procedures. The aircraft will officially return to service after receiving its Certificate of Release to Service.
Why Nagpur was chosen
Nagpur emerged as a preferred base for the revival of the aircraft due to multiple advantages, its long and sturdy runway, relatively low air traffic, and the presence of a well-equipped MRO facility with specialised hangars, tools and trained manpower, making it ideal for complex test flights.
Airport conducts full-scale air crash mock drill
Coinciding with preparations for the test flight, a mock drill simulating a major air crash emergency was conducted at Nagpur Airport on Monday. The exercise was coordinated by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and involved the city police, Nagpur Municipal Corporation fire brigade, and airport operator MIHAN India Limited.
As part of the drill, a scenario involving 22 injured passengers trapped in a crashed aircraft was enacted. Emergency teams swiftly carried out rescue operations, while a green corridor along Wardha Road was created to transport the injured. Ambulances were smoothly mobilised from different parts of the city, demonstrating coordinated response and rapid evacuation.
Officials said the exercise was aimed at testing inter-agency coordination, response time and emergency preparedness, especially at a time when aviation activity at Nagpur is poised to gain momentum.
Together, the long-awaited revival of the Boeing 777 and the successful mock drill signal a renewed push towards operational readiness and safety at Nagpur Airport, reinforcing its growing role as a key aviation hub in central India.
