In a narrow escape, an Indigo plane from Mumbai with over 180 people on board aborted landing at the airport in Lucknow after its pilot detected a chopper of Uttar Pradesh government in close range, prompting authorities to order an inquiry.
The incident was reported last evening as the plane and the chopper were about to land at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, a senior airport official said in Lucknow on Tuesday.
"Both the chopper and the flight were landing when the pilot of the airline decided to abort after he reported that the helicopter was is sight," director airport and ATC SC Hota told PTI, adding that pilot "felt that the helicopter was close".
The Indigo Airbus 320 had 180 people and six infants on board along with eight crew members. Officials did not say who were on board the government chopper.
Hota said both the aircraft were following procedure.
"The matter is being investigated," the director said.
"It was not a near-miss. The Air Traffic Control told the aircraft pilot to go around," airline sources claimed.