In a concerning turn of events at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, an incident involving an IndiGo aircraft landing while an Air India plane took off from the same runway within a minute has stirred significant attention from India’s aviation authorities. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) swiftly intervened, derostering the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) responsible for managing the runway during the incident, which occurred on Saturday. Both IndiGo and Air India have initiated internal investigations into the matter.
The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has raised questions about the safety protocols and operational procedures at one of India’s busiest airports. Mumbai Airport, operating with a single runway, witnesses a high volume of arrivals and departures, with approximately 46 movements per hour on runway RW27.
According to reports, the IndiGo flight from Indore, designated as 6E 6053, received landing clearance from the ATC and proceeded with its approach and landing as instructed. Simultaneously, Air India flight AI657 bound for Trivandrum commenced its take-off roll after being cleared by the ATC. Both airlines maintain that their pilots adhered to the instructions provided by the ATC.
While standard operating procedures allow ATCs to manage up to two arrivals and departures within three minutes under specific conditions, concerns have been raised regarding the clearance procedures in this particular incident. Visibility conditions were reported to be favourable, and there were no immediate safety hazards reported by authorities. However, questions remain about whether the departing aircraft crossed the end of the runway before the landing clearance was issued, as per established protocols. The incident underscores the critical role of ATCs in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of airports, especially during periods of high traffic density.
The DGCA’s probe will delve into the adherence to safety protocols by both the ATC and the pilots involved, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future. As Mumbai Airport continues to handle a significant volume of air traffic, maintaining rigorous safety standards remains paramount to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft alike.
