New Delhi/Mumbai (Economy India): A potentially serious runway incident was averted at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday night after an Air India aircraft aborted its take-off following instructions from Air Traffic Control (ATC) while an Air India Express aircraft was still on the same runway.
According to sources, the incident occurred at around 10:00 p.m., when the Delhi-bound Air India flight had begun its take-off roll while the Air India Express aircraft, which had just landed, was yet to fully vacate the runway.
ATC Intervention Prevents Potential Mishap
Sources said air traffic controllers immediately instructed the Air India crew to abort the take-off after identifying the runway conflict.
The flight crew complied with the ATC directive, bringing the aircraft to a safe halt before take-off, thereby preventing what could have been a serious runway safety incident.
Air India Confirms Aborted Take-Off
In an official statement, an Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying:
“The take-off run was aborted following instructions from the Air Traffic Controller.”
The airline did not immediately provide additional operational details but indicated that the crew acted in accordance with established safety procedures.
What Happened?
According to preliminary information:
- The Air India Express aircraft had landed and was in the process of vacating the runway.
- At the same time, a Delhi-bound Air India aircraft was cleared for departure preparations.
- Before the aircraft became airborne, ATC instructed the crew to discontinue the take-off.
- The aircraft safely aborted the take-off and remained under full control throughout the procedure.
Aviation Safety Procedures Worked as Intended
A rejected or aborted take-off is a standard safety procedure that pilots are trained to perform whenever instructed by ATC or when any operational risk is identified.
The incident highlights the importance of continuous runway monitoring and coordination between pilots and air traffic controllers to maintain safe aircraft separation.
Investigation Expected
Aviation authorities are expected to review the sequence of events, including runway occupancy, ATC communication, and operational procedures, to determine how both aircraft came to occupy the same runway environment.
Such reviews are part of standard aviation safety protocols and are aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
No Injuries Reported
There were no reports of injuries to passengers or crew, and the incident ended without any physical damage to either aircraft.
The prompt response by Air Traffic Control and the flight crew ensured that the situation was safely resolved.
