Heroic Pilot Credits Himself For Saving 150 Lives During Mayday Landing

In a dramatic real-life incident that has been immortalized in Bollywood, Captain Vikrant Khanna, an experienced pilot of Jet Airways flight 9W-555, landed the Boeing 737 aircraft at Thiruvananthapuram airport with only 250 kg of fuel left, despite dire warnings and unfavorable weather conditions.

The harrowing incident occurred on August 18, 2015, when the flight departed from Doha, Qatar, bound for Kochi, Kerala. However, due to bad weather, the plane was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, where Captain Khanna faced a daunting challenge landing the aircraft safely with a critically low fuel level.

The drama unfolded as the flights' air controllers repeatedly warned the pilots about their situation and pleaded them to turn back, but Captain Khanna persisted in his efforts. He landed the plane after four failed attempts, relying on his own judgment despite all odds being against him.

According to reports, the aircraft had only 250 kg of fuel left at a height of 35,000 feet above sea level, amidst torrential rains and poor visibility. In spite of these hazardous conditions, Captain Khanna skillfully guided the Boeing 737 to Thiruvananthapuram airport without any serious incident or loss of life.

Post-incident inquiry, it was revealed that both pilots had ignored warnings from air traffic control multiple times but were later awarded heroes for their incredible bravery. The pilot's determination and expertise are a shining example of their dedication to keeping passengers safe at all costs.

Ajay Devgn's Bollywood film Runway 34 inspired by the incident has captured the essence of Captain Khanna's fearless determination in the face of unimaginable odds, where he fought tooth-and-nail to save his crew members.