New Delhi: A major accident was averted at the Mumbai airport Saturday evening when an IndiGo aircraft landed just behind an Air India plane that was taking off from the same runway, a narrow escape for hundreds of passengers. Aviation regulator Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a probe and de-rostered the Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) involved in the incident.
In a statement, IndiGo said that on Saturday, its flight 6E 6053 from Indore was given landing clearance by the ATC at the Mumbai Airport. “The Pilot in Command continued the approach and landing and followed ATC instructions. At IndiGo, passenger safety is paramount to us, and we have reported the incident as per procedure,” it added.
In a video of the incident that was shared on social media, both planes can be seen on the same runway. The video shows the IndiGo plane landing on the runway even as the Air India flight was already on the runway preparing to take off.
Air traffic controllers are responsible for coordinating the movement of aircraft to maintain safe distances between them during take-offs, landing as well as ground movement of aircraft. In India, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is responsible for managing air traffic control services.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also Read: 39 flamingos hit by aircraft — why their migratory journeys are becoming increasingly perilous