Tiruchirappalli/IBNS: An Air India Express flight that reported a hydraulic failure shortly after taking off from the Tiruchirappalli airport in Tamil Nadu has landed safely, media reports said.

The flight, with 144 passengers on board, had taken off at 5.40 pm. It reported the snag soon after the take-off.

The plane was then asked to turn back but since it was not advisable to attempt a precautionary landing with full fuel on board, the pilots burnt some of it by flying around the airport.

The plane remained airborne for over two and a half hours, finally landing at 8.15 pm.

Amid reports about a possible problem with the landing at the Tiruchirappalli airport, several ambulances were kept on standby.