Aviation India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Close-shave-for-air-passengers/articleshow/7789343.cms


Close shave for fliers at Patna airport

Patna: About 250-odd fliers at the Jaya Prakash Narayan International (JPNI) here had a close shave on Friday when two flights avoided a head-on collision.
IndiGo's evening Kolkata-Patna-Bangalore flight (6E-342) had almost started moving from the airport when Kingfisher's Kolkata-Patna flight (IT-4579) started approaching the same runway, sources said.
About 140 passengers were aboard IndiGo's 6E-342 flight. Around 150 passengers, including 90 foreigners, were on the Kingfisher's IT-4579 flight.
Airport sources said the IndiGo flight was taking off from its designated site after its pilot obtained permission from the air traffic control (ATC). At the same time, ATC officials also reportedly allowed the Kingfisher flight to land once it started hovering in the sky.
City airport's air traffic officials declined to comment when TOI asked about the reported goof-up.
Sources said the accident was averted because of the quick decision taken by the ATC officials here. The Kingfisher flight was approaching towards the runway when the ATC officials detected the problem and directed the Kingfisher flight to continue hovering in the sky for some more time till the IndiGo flight took off.
The Kingfisher flight hovered in the sky for about 30 minutes till the IndiGo flight took off successfully.
Sources said the IndiGo pilot was a few minutes late in taking off. Officials of the IndiGo airlines refused to comment.
26/03/11 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Mar 2011, Indigo Airlines Mar 2011, Kingfisher Mar 2011, Safety Mar 2011