Mumbai: A potential runway collision was averted at Mumbai airport on Tuesday night after an Air India flight aborted its take-off following instructions from Air Traffic Control (ATC), preventing a possible accident.
The incident occurred around 10 pm when Air India Express flight AIX1547, arriving from Siliguri, was still on the runway after landing as Delhi-bound Air India flight AI816 had begun its take-off roll on the same runway.
In a statement, Air India confirmed that the crew of flight AI816 discontinued the take-off run on ATC instructions and returned the aircraft to the bay. The airline said the aircraft would undergo mandatory safety checks as per standard operating procedures and that alternative arrangements were being made to fly passengers to Delhi at the earliest.
According to reports, AI816 was operated using a Boeing 777-300ER, while Air India Express flight AIX1547 was operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8. The number of passengers on board either aircraft was not immediately known.
The airline did not disclose further details about the incident. A take-off run refers to the phase when an aircraft accelerates on the runway before reaching take-off speed.
Prompt intervention by ATC ensured both aircraft were safely separated, averting what could have been a serious runway mishap.
