NEW DELHI, July 21, (Xinhua): A domestic flight belonging to the private airline company Air India skidded off the runway amid heavy rains in India's financial capital Mumbai on Monday, but managed to taxi safely to a parking bay, confirmed an official at the airport.

TV media reports showed minor damage to the aircraft, but all the passengers and crew members were safe. Flying from Kochi to Mumbai, the domestic flight No. AI2744 faced heavy rains on landing in Mumbai, "resulting in a runway excursion after touchdown," according to the airport official.

He confirmed that the aircraft taxied safely to a parking bay, and all passengers and crew members were safe and had disembarked from the aircraft. "The aircraft has been grounded for checks," added the official.

Media reports quoted a spokesperson of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport as saying that "there are minor damage reported to the airport's primary runway, 0927. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the secondary runway 1432 has been activated."