New details emerge in Mumbai runway incident

New details are emerging in the case of a near collision at Mumbai Airport on Monday. One of the Indian Air Force helicopters, part of the President's convoy, broke the formation and landed out of turn on the runway, just 300 metres from an Air India plane preparing to take off.
NDTV has transcripts of the conversation between pilots and the Air Traffic Control, which detail what happened in Runway 27. The transcripts show the following set of dialogue between Mumbai ATC and Pratap 1 helicopter.

Pratap 1 to Mumbai ATC at 9.10 am: Permission required for take off, VIP on board.
Mumbai ATC: Take off cleared. Proceed towards Trombay Hill and hold.
Pratap 1: Positive.
Pratap 1: Three miles. Permission for clearance to finals.
Mumbai ATC: Positive.
At 9.17 am: Air India plane slowly moved on runway.
Pilot S S Kohli to Mumbai ATC: Air India (followed by call sign) flight requests permission for take off.
Mumbai ATC: Proceed to Runway 27.
9:17 am - 9:19 am: Air India aircraft proceeds towards Runway 27.

With Pratap 1 three miles away, ATC notices Pratap 2 helicopter breaking formation and nearing landing. Pratap 1 is heard twice directing Pratap 2 helicopter not to break the formation. But by then, it is already just 1000 feet from the Air India aircraft.

Meanwhile, Air India plane moved on runway and Pratap 2 overtook Pratap1 and landed. The ATC tells the Air India plane to halt and vacate the runway. Pilot Kohli applies emergency brakes and swerves to the right to move out of way. The aircraft tyres are damaged in the incident.
At 9.19 am, Air India plane swerved to the right and smoke started emerging from the tyres. ATC told Air India aircraft to reject take off and immediately vacate runway.
A minute after Pratap 2 landed without permission, Pratap 1 made a landing.
At 9.20 am, Air India plane turned right and Pratap 2 and Pratap 1 landed after that.
10/02/09 Prerana Thakurdesai, Sudhi Ranjan Sen/NDTV.com

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Categories: Air India Domestic Feb 2009, Airports Feb 2009, NACIL Feb 2009, Safety Feb 2009