DGCA de-rosters air traffic controller for aircraft close call at Mumbai airport

MUMBAI: The Aviation regulatory body, DGCA, has taken action by de-rostering an Air Traffic Control officer (ATCO) from Mumbai following a potentially disastrous incident involving two aircraft on the same runway.
The incident occurred at Mumbai airport on Saturday morning when an Air India aircraft was speeding for take off when an IndiGo aircraft came in and landed behind it on the same runway.
Air India flight AI657 from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram had started the take-off roll and was gaining speed to lift off when an IndiGo on final approach crossed the runway threshold to land. IndiGo flight 6E5053 had come in from Indore. The close call was caught on camera by plane spotters.
An IndiGo spokesperson said: “On June 8, 2024 IndiGo flight 6E 6053 from Indore was given landing clearance by ATC at Mumbai Airport. The Pilot in Command continued the approach and landing and followed ATC instructions. At IndiGo, passenger safety is paramount to us, and we have reported the incident as per procedure.”
A statement from Air India is awaited.