Air India, IndiGo Planes Come Dangerously Close to Each Other on Mumbai Airport Runway

Air India, IndiGo Planes Come Dangerously Close to Each Other on Mumbai Airport Runway

Keywords: Air India, IndiGo, Mumbai Airport, Runway Incursion, Near Miss

Mumbai, India – Two passenger planes from Air India and IndiGo came dangerously close to colliding on the runway at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday.

The incident occurred at around 10:45 PM local time when an Air India Airbus A320 was preparing to depart for Kolkata. However, as it taxied onto the runway, it came within a few hundred meters of an IndiGo Airbus A321 that was landing from Jaipur.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the IndiGo aircraft had also entered the runway, despite instructions to wait at a holding point. As a result, the two planes were reportedly within 200 meters of each other, prompting the Air India pilot to abort takeoff.

The incident has raised concerns about runway safety at Mumbai Airport. This is the second near-miss at the airport in recent months. In March, a Jet Airways flight had to abort landing after coming too close to an Air India aircraft on the runway.

The DGCA has ordered an investigation into the latest incident. Officials are reviewing air traffic control recordings and interviewing pilots and air traffic controllers to determine the cause of the near-collision.

In the meantime, the DGCA has issued a circular to all airlines operating at Mumbai Airport, reminding them of the importance of adhering to runway protocols and following air traffic controller instructions.

The near-miss has also highlighted the need for improved technology at Mumbai Airport. The airport is currently working on upgrading its air traffic control systems and installing new radar technology to enhance safety.