In what proved to be a close shave for passengers of two aircraft, the wing tips of two planes brushed each other while taxing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Mumbai on Wednesday morning.
The Airbus A320 aircraft of the IndiGo “came in contact” with the wing tip of an Airbus A330 of Kuwait Airways, an international airliner, while they taxing at the CSIA.
Taking serious cognisance of the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an inquiry into the incident that took place at around 0545 hrs.
Confirming that the wing tip of its Airbus A320 aircraft came in contact with the wing tip of the wide-body aircraft Airbus A330 of Kuwait Airways, IndiGo airlines spokesperson said: “At 5:45 am, when the aircraft of the international airline was taxing towards the parking stand, an IndiGo flight was simultaneously taxing to depart to Jaipur from Taxi Way ‘N’ and ‘W' respectively”.
However, there was no official clarification Kuwait Airways.
The IndiGo pilot – while he was taxing the flight 6E 207 from Mumbai to Jaipur under the ATC’s instruction – was advised to follow the international operator’s arrival. “Approximately at 5 45 am, the pilot of Kuwait Airlines was advised by the ATC to move ahead to make way for IndiGo aircraft,” the Indigo spokesperson said.
Quoting AIP (India) guidelines, IndiGo spokesperson said that while an aircraft is on taxiway N, Taxiway W4 must not be permitted to use as standard wingtip clearance is not met. The AIP (India) guidelines manual reads thus: “the aircraft holding on taxiway W4 at holding position runway 14/32 will prohibit aircraft taxing on taxiway N".
“Hence, due to the taxing process, the Airbus 320 aircraft of IndiGo came in contact with Airbus A330 aircraft of the international operator,” the Indigo spokesperson contended.
Having observed the brushing of the wing tips of the two aircraft, an IndiGo passenger immediately alerted the crew- who informed the pilots about the development.
As a precautionary measure, the Pilot-in-Command operating IndiGo flight 6E 207 immediately decided to take the precautionary measure and returned the aircraft to the parking bay.
The flight crew briefed the passengers on board informed about the situation and asked them to maintain calm. All passengers were safely accommodated to the other aircraft.
“The IndiGo safety department is supporting the investigation being conducted by the DGCA.” The IndiGo spokesperson said.