Confusion on runway, but disaster averted

Mumbai: In a major procedural goof-up by air traffic control (ATC) at Mumbai airport, a Kingfisher flight was permitted take-off while a GoAir flight that had landed was still on the runway.
While the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe, a blame game is in full swing.
At 1.36pm, Kingfisher’s Mumbai-Bhavnagar flight IT 4123 (an ATR 72-500) with 30 passengers and crew was cleared for take-off by ATC.
Just then, GoAir’s Delhi-Mumbai flight G8-230 landed on runway 09/27.
The Kingfisher pilot heard ATC instructing the GoAir pilot to vacate the runway from taxiway N7.
“Our pilot, who was given permission for take-off, proceeded to do so while the GoAir flight was still on the runway,” said a Kingfisher official.
The GoAir pilot could not stop the aircraft on taxiway N7 and went towards taxiway 8, which was closed for construction work. So he proceeded to taxiway 9, vacating the runway.
“When the ATC official realised that the GoAir plane was still on the runway, he asked the Kingfisher pilot to abort take-off. Thankfully, the plane was under 130 knots per hour and the pilot could reject take-off. The plane exited the runway through taxiway N4,” said a source.
Meanwhile, another Kingfisher flight — Delhi-Mumbai IT 308 — was given permission to land by ATC.
20/04/10 Naveeta Singh/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Apr 2010, GoAir Apr 2010, Kingfisher Apr 2010, Safety Apr 2010