Major mishap averted at Delhi Airport as Vistara planes receive simultaneous clearance for takeoff and landing

Representational picture. File Photo AFP

A potentially disastrous situation was narrowly avoided at the Delhi airport when two Vistara Airlines planes were simultaneously given permission for takeoff and landing. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when Flight UK725, bound for Bagdogra, was taking off from a newly inaugurated runway, while another Vistara flight from Ahmedabad to Delhi was in the process of landing on a parallel runway.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) immediately intervened to avert the mishap. The ATC officer on duty instructed the flight taking off to abort its takeoff, preventing a collision between the two aircraft.

"Both were given permission at the same time but ATC took control immediately. The ATC (Air Traffic Control) officer on duty asked Vistara flight to abort take-off," an official, who was aware of the developments, told ANI.

Delhi-Bagdogra flight returned to the parking bay from the active runway immediately after take-off was aborted. Officials said it was refuelled to ensure that the plane had enough fuel to return to Delhi if the pilot encountered bad weather conditions at Bagdogra. The braking system was also checked, they said.

According to airport officials, if the flight taking off was not stopped at the right time, a major accident could have happened.

According to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), no aircraft or vehicle movement is allowed during the process of take-off and landing.

Sources said passengers became a little apprehensive when the pilot of the flight bound for Bagdogra announced that the plane will not take off due to instructions from ATC.

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Senior pilot and founder of Safety Matters Foundation, Capt Amit Singh said that flight operations "from closely spaced runways require enhanced monitoring and stricter compliance with SOPs to avoid a potential traffic collision due to the proximity of the flight path".

"Normally a take-off clearance is not issued to an aircraft on one runway unless the aircraft on the second runway has landed," he said.

"However, due to a lapse if the aircraft is permitted to take off from one runway and the aircraft approaching on the second runway decides to abort the landing and carry out a go-around to climb ahead, the flight path of the two aircraft in the air may come in conflict since the runway they were aligned to were closely spaced," he added. (Agencies)