A potential air disaster was averted at Mumbai airport on Tuesday evening after an Air India plane was preparing to take off and an Air India Express plane had just landed on the same runway, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.
The incident occurred around 10 pm when the Delhi-bound Air India flight was preparing to depart. The takeoff was canceled after air traffic control (ATC) intervention.
PTI sources added that the Air India Express plane had landed but had not yet left the runway when the Delhi-bound Air India flight began its preparations for take-off on the same runway. With both planes facing each other on the runway, air traffic controllers instructed the Air India crew to stop taking off.
Air India confirms that the take-off has been cancelled
In a statement, Air India confirmed that the take-off process was halted based on instructions from air traffic control.
“The crew operating flight AI816 from Mumbai to Delhi on July 7 aborted the take-off after receiving instructions to do so from air traffic control and returned to the Gulf,” the airline said.
In general, a takeoff run refers to the aircraft rolling before gaining takeoff speed.
The airline added that the aircraft will undergo further mandatory inspections before being allowed for service.
“The aircraft will undergo necessary checks as per standard operating procedures. Meanwhile, alternative arrangements are being made to transport passengers to their destination as soon as possible,” the airline said.
The airline expressed its regret over the disruption to passengers, and said safety considerations guided its response to the situation.
“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unexpected situation. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers remains the top priority.”
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to either plane. The circumstances that led to the two planes being on the same runway at the same time were not immediately clear.
According to PTI sources, Air India flight AI816 to Delhi was scheduled to be operated using a wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The Air India Express flight AIX1547, which arrived from Siliguri and was still on the runway, was operating a narrow-body Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
(With inputs from Neha L.M. Tripathi)
