Air India Flight Aborts Takeoff After Spotting Another Aircraft on Mumbai Runway
Quick Look
- An Air India flight to Delhi aborted its takeoff at Mumbai airport Tuesday night after Air Traffic Control instructed it to stop due to another Air India Express plane on the same runway.
- The Boeing 777-300ER returned safely to the bay, and passengers will be re-accommodated.
- No injuries or damage were reported.
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Why It Matters
An Air India flight preparing to depart for Delhi was forced to abort its takeoff after Air Traffic Control instructed it to stop. This was because an Air India Express aircraft had not yet cleared the same runway.
An Air India flight aborted its takeoff run Tuesday night after spotting another aircraft. The Boeing 777-300ER was ordered to stop by Air Traffic Control. Another Air India Express plane had just landed on the same runway. The pilots safely returned the aircraft to the bay after the incident. Passengers were unaware of the near collision on the Mumbai airport tarmac.
A potentially serious runway incident was averted at Mumbai airport on Tuesday night after an Air India flight preparing to depart for Delhi was forced to abort its take-off because an Air India Express aircraft had not yet cleared the same runway.
According to the Times of India, the incident took place around 9.40 pm when Air India flight AI816, operating from Mumbai to Delhi, had entered Runway 27 and begun its take-off roll. At the same time, Air India Express flight AIX1547, arriving from Bagdogra (Siliguri), had landed on the same runway and was still in the process of vacating it, sources told TOI.
With both aircraft on the same runway, Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructed the Air India crew to immediately discontinue the take-off.
"The crew operating flight AI816 from Mumbai to Delhi on July 7 discontinued the take-off run after receiving an instruction to do so from the Air Traffic Control and returned to the bay," an Air India spokesperson said.
The airline said the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft would undergo mandatory safety checks as per standard operating procedures before returning to service.
"The aircraft would undergo necessary checks as per standard operating procedures," the spokesperson added, saying that alternative arrangements were being made to fly passengers to Delhi at the earliest.
Sources told TOI that the Air India Express flight AIX1547 was operated using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and had landed only seconds before the Air India aircraft began its take-off preparations.
No injuries or damage were reported, and the incident was resolved after the Air India aircraft returned safely to the bay following the ATC instruction.
The airline did not disclose any additional details about the circumstances that led to both aircraft being on the same runway. Aviation authorities are expected to review the incident as part of standard safety procedures.
Open Questions
- What caused both aircraft to be on the same runway?
- Will aviation authorities take action against responsible parties?