Collision averted at Kolkata airport
A major collision on the secondary runway at Kolkata’s airport was averted after an aircraft, waiting at taxi point for its turn to take off, rolled onto one side of the secondary runway where another aircraft was going to land, reports HT Correspondent.
A major collision on the secondary runway at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport was averted after an aircraft, waiting at taxi point for its turn to take off, rolled onto one side of the secondary runway where another aircraft was going to land.
When Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials noticed the nose of the aircraft on the ground jutting into the runway, they asked the aircraft coming in to land to ‘Go Round’ thus averting a collision.
More than 100 lives were saved. Sources said the incident happened around 12.55pm when the Guwahati-Kolkata Jet Airways flight was preparing to land.
A Kingfisher Red (erstwhile Deccan) flight from Kolkata to Aizwal was getting ready for take off.
A higher AAI official on Wednesday said, “It seems that the Kingfisher Red pilot made the mistake and therefore the aircraft rolled onto the runway.”
“It was not cleared to go into the runway and was asked hold (stop and wait) at the taxiway (D-taxiway). The DGCA is being informed and all necessary actions will be taken,” the official said.
Another AAI official said, “You have to wait at a certain mark and the Kingfisher Red aircraft went beyond that safety mark.”
It was however not clear why the pilot failed to adhere to the ATC instructions.
Sources at the airport also lauded the Jet Airways pilot for keeping his cool and averting the danger.
All flights are operating at the secondary runway at present because the main runway will remain closed till November 15 as it is being thoroughly repaired. It was closed from November 3.