IAF not at fault in runway incident: Major

Indian Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major rejected Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reports that the IAF pilot were at fault when a Mumbai-Delhi flight (IC 866) had to suddenly abort its flight on Monday.

A major collision was averted on the Mumbai airport after MI-17 choppers, part of President Pratibha Patil's fleet, suddenly landed on the runway.

Following the incident, the DGCA had initiated a high level enquiry into the incident and given clean chit to the AI pilots and de-rostered two ATC men. The DGCA blamed IAF pilots for the goof up.

"IAF was not at fault. IAF choppers were given clearance to land by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) towers. The pilots were not told to shift frequencies," Major told a TV channel. He stressed the need to fine-tune procedures of civil aviation side.

He also rejected DGCA reports that the IAF pilots were not in touch with the Mumbai ATC.