Planes come within 40 metres of head-on collision at IGI Airport

NEW DELHI: A major tragedy was averted on Tuesday morning when two aircraft came face to face on a taxiway at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The incident took place around 7.30am when IndiGo flight 6E-769 from Lucknow landed at runway 10/28 and entered taxiway E2. At the same time, SpiceJet flight SG123 -- operating from Delhi to Hyderabad – sought permission to return to its bay for refuelling as it had been waiting for over an hour to take off.

ATC sources said the SpiceJet pilot was asked to enter Bay E. However, due to poor visibility, he couldn’t locate the bay. Instead, because of a miscommunication, the aircraft entered the adjacent Bay E2. “The pilots brought the two aircraft to halt just 40 metres from each other,” an official said.

While the IndiGo flight had 176 passengers on board, there were 187 people on the SpiceJet aircraft. The matter was reported to DGCA. The air traffic controller on duty was de-rostered immediately after the incident.

A SpiceJet spokesperson said its pilot “was following ATC instructions at all times”. Visibility at the runway was between 50 and 75 metres at the time of the near-miss and had led to delayed departures for several other flights. Sources said the SpiceJet pilot had requested a ‘follow me’ service -- where a jeep provided by airport authorities guides the plane in low visibility to or from the runway.

The SpiceJet spokesperson said in a statement: “SG123 was following ATC instructions at all times at Delhi airport. While taxiing, the SpiceJet crew observed another aircraft on the same taxiway in the opposite direction. Acting promptly, the SpiceJet crew immediately stopped the aircraft and intimated the ATC.” He added: “...at no stage the safety of 187 passengers, seven crew members and the aircraft was compromised. All authorities concerned were immediately informed.”

IndiGo officials, on the other hand, said that after spotting another aircraft just ahead of him, the captain-in-command switched off the engine and alerted ATC, in accordance with the standard operating procedures.

“There has been no unfortunate incident or close shave as reported by a section of media. All 176 passengers, along with the crew, are safe. The IndiGo flight was throughout following ATC instructions. IndiGo has voluntarily informed DGCA. This matter is being investigated by IndiGo safety department and the regulator,” said an IndiGo spokesperson.

“As an airline, we rely upon ATC’s traffic advisory and ensure to comply with their instructions.”

Sources said a DGCA team was examining the taped conversation between the pilots and the controller.


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