The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Saturday (June 8) narrowly avoided a potential disaster. The incident occurred when an IndiGo flight was landing while an Air India flight was accelerating for takeoff to Thiruvananthapuram from the same runway.
As the IndiGo aircraft descended, the Air India flight was still in the process of accelerating down the runway. However, the Air India flight miraculously managed to take off just in time, seemingly unaware of the imminent danger from the other aircraft approaching from behind.
Mumbai airport incident caught on camera
The incident came to light after the video of the incident was posted on Twitter by a user named Tarun Shukla and has sparked concerns regarding safety protocols at Mumbai Airport.
IndiGo affirms pilot compliance with ATC instructions
In a statement, IndiGo asserted that the pilot of flight 6E 6053 from Indore to Mumbai adhered to the instructions provided by the Air Traffic Control (ATC). “On June 8, 2024, IndiGo flight 6E 6053 from Indore was given landing clearance by ATC at Mumbai Airport. The pilot in command continued the approach and landing and followed ATC instructions. At IndiGo, passenger safety is paramount to us, and we have reported the incident as per procedure,” an IndiGo representative was quoted as saying by Business Today.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has promptly taken action by de-rostering an Air Traffic Control officer (ATCO) from Mumbai. The DGCA’s immediate response to de-roster the ATC officer involved reflects the seriousness of the incident and the emphasis on maintaining strict safety standards in aviation operations.