- Saturday, April 27, 2024
India’s civil aviation regulator off-rostered two pilots of the IndiGo aircraft and asked for a detailed probe into the incident.
By: Shubham Ghosh
A MAJOR disaster was averted in Kolkata in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal on Wednesday (27) morning when two aircraft came dangerously close to each other on the runway and their wings grazed each other.
The two planes were an IndiGo flight that was taxiing at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport to take off for Darbhanga in the neighbouring state of Bihar while the other was an Air India Express flight which was waiting for a green signal to enter the runway. A part of the latter’s wing that got hit fell on the runway, while the wing of the former was dented.
Indian regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) off-rostered both the pilots of the IndiGo aircraft and sought a detailed probe, Asian News International reported.
At Kolkata Airport, IndiGo Airbus A320neo (VT-ISS) collided with stationary AI Express B737 (VT-TGG).
Both aircraft sustained damage and returned to bay.
DGCA has off-rostered the pilots of IndiGo aircraft.@AAI_Official @JM_Scindia @IndiGo6E @airindia pic.twitter.com/TLgN3EtB7T
— आनंद गुप्ता (मोदी का परिवार) (@aanandsg) March 27, 2024
“We have ordered a detailed investigation into the matter and both the pilots of IndiGo airlines have been off-rostered. The ground staff will also be questioned during the investigation. Both the flights have been grounded for detailed inspection,” a DGCA official was quoted as saying.
The IndiGo flight had 135 passengers on board, including four infants.
The budget airline confirmed the incident and said the aircraft returned for inspection and necessary action, as per the protocol. It also said that a report has been filed with the DGCA.
The flight was delayed as a result of the incident and refreshments were given to all passengers and an alternative plane was arranged. The carrier said passengers’ safety is something that it prioritises above everything else.
A spokesperson of Air India Express said their aircraft involved in the incident was also sent for examination and the airline was working with the regulator and authorities at the airport.
The airport authorities in Kolkata also spoke about the incident that took place around 11.10 am local time.
The world’s deadliest mid-air disaster took place in Delhi in November 1996 when a Saudi Arabian and Kazakh aircraft collided, killing nearly 350 people on board both the planes.
