Plane lands on closed runway

It was around 12.05 pm on Sunday. Some officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) were busy in the routine maintenance work on the main runway of the Kolkata airport.
They had to complete their work on an emergency basis as the Notam (notice to airmen) was issued regarding the closure of the main runway for only three hours, from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm.
Suddenly, one of the maintenance staff spotted an aircraft preparing to land at the runway. Immediately, he informed other officials and they started waiving flags to catch the attention of the pilot. But all their efforts went in vain as the Thai Air Asia plane landed at the main runway at 12.07 pm.
“Thank God! The aircraft as well as the airport narrowly escaped a disastrous accident,” Gautam Mukherjee, executive director, eastern region, AAI, said in his first reaction to the incident when contacted over the phone. According to sources at the Kolkata airport, a Notam was issued for the routine maintenance of the main runway. During the Notam period, the main runway was totally closed for any air operation.
27/06/11 Deccan Chronicle

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Categories: Airports Jun 2011, Foreign Jun 2011, Safety Jun 2011