Air India and IndiGo face-to-face on same runway
A potentially catastrophic runway incursion was narrowly averted on Wednesday evening at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, where an IndiGo aircraft taxiing for departure and an Air India flight on final approach came dangerously close on the same runway.
The incident occurred around 6.30 PM when the IndiGo flight was taxiing out for a departure to Mumbai, while the Air India aircraft (operating flight AI2493 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad) was landing. Aviation sources told The Pioneer that the two aircraft came perilously close, raising serious safety concerns at the busy single-runway airport.
Prima facie assessment indicates that the Air India pilot appears to have made an error during the landing and taxiing sequence. However, swift and professional intervention by Air Traffic Control (ATC) helped prevent a collision. No injuries were reported, and there was no damage to either aircraft.
A formal investigation has been initiated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to establish the exact sequence of events, identify any communication lapses, and examine procedural failures.
Air India, in a statement to The Pioneer, confirmed the incident: 'We are aware of an incident where our flight AI2493 operating from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on 24 June, after landing, inadvertently took a wrong turn during taxiing. There was no compromise on the safety of passengers and crew. The aircraft was subsequently towed back to the parking bay.
The matter has been reported to the regulatory authorities and an investigation initiated.” No official statement has been issued by IndiGo so far. The DGCA has taken cognisance of the matter and ordered a detailed probe.
This close call comes at a time when Indian aviation is under heightened scrutiny regarding safety standards. Ahmedabad Airport, which operates with a single runway, has witnessed increased traffic in recent years, making precise coordination between arriving and departing flights critical.
Aviation experts emphasise that such incidents underscore the need for zero-tolerance protocols in runway management and stricter adherence to standard operating procedures.
Authorities have assured that passenger and crew safety remains paramount, and lessons from this and previous near-misses will be used to strengthen protocols at busy airports across the country.
