Close Call at Delhi Airport: How a Heroic Pilot Averted Disaster
An Alert Vistara Pilot’s Heroic Act Prevents Collision at Delhi Airport
A potential catastrophe was narrowly averted at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on August 23, 2023, as two Vistara flights came dangerously close, within a mere 2 km, on the same runway. The two planes, carrying over 300 passengers collectively, narrowly escaped disaster, thanks to the quick thinking of one vigilant Vistara pilot. According to ANI, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken action against an air traffic controller who mistakenly granted clearance for takeoff and crossing to two different aircraft on the same runway simultaneously.
The Close Call:
Media reports reveal that the Delhi Airport’s ATC approved the takeoff of a Vistara aircraft while another plane was in the midst of landing, placing the two flights on a collision course. The incident involved Vistara Flight UK725 departing from Delhi to Bagdogra on Wednesday morning, initiating takeoff from a newly inaugurated fourth runway. Simultaneously, Vistara plane VT1926 en route from Ahmedabad to Delhi was completing its landing on parallel runway 29L and was directed by the ATC to cross runway 29R, progressing toward the end of the runway. Temporarily, the tower controller momentarily overlooked this crossing and granted takeoff clearance to another Vistara flight, VTI725 (Delhi–Bagdogra), on runway 29R.
“Realizing the error based on input from VTI926, the tower controller instructed VTI725 to cancel takeoff,” an official stated. The takeoff was promptly halted upon ATC’s directives. “Swift corrective action followed as the tower controller promptly directed the Delhi-Bagdogra flight to abort its takeoff,” an official explained.
Heroic Act by Female Pilot:
According to IANS, the female captain of the Ahmedabad to Delhi flight, descending for landing, observed that Flight UK725 from Delhi to Bagdogra was granted clearance by the ATC while the parallel flight was preparing for takeoff. Sources indicated that she promptly reported the situation to the ATC, preventing a significant disaster. sources revealed. Media identified the female captain as 45-year-old Captain Sonu Gill of the Ahmedabad-Delhi flight.
The planes were separated by a mere 1.8 km (1,800 meters). If the alert pilot hadn’t notified the ATC of the impending danger, the outcome could have been disastrous. The Delhi-Bagdogra flight was swiftly moved from the active runway after being instructed to abort takeoff and returned to its parking area, where it was refueled to ensure sufficient fuel for the subsequent takeoff attempt.