New Delhi: An Air India aircraft coming in to land at IGI Airport was minutes away from touchdown when the air traffic control asked it to abort landing and take a go-around instead. The reason: the aircraft that had departed from the same runway a minute earlier had reported the presence of a dead bird on the runway which would have to be cleared before any operations were allowed on it.
"Air India flight AI-806 from Mumbai was scheduled to land around 9.52am. Around 9.50am, Air India AI-506 Delhi-Bangalore that had just taken off reported a dead bird on the new runway 29/11. As per protocol, the runway had to be checked thoroughly before any arrival or departure could take place on it and hence all operations were stalled. Whatever distance of arrival any approaching aircraft is, it has to abort landing for safety purposes," said airport sources.
19/02/13 Times of India
