A potential disaster was averted on Wednesday as two Vistara airplanes were on the brink of colliding on the same runway at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The heroic actions of a quick-thinking female pilot prevented what could have been a catastrophic incident.
Close Call: Two Planes on a Collision Course
The incident involved Vistara flight UK926 from Ahmedabad, which was landing on runway 29L, and Vistara flight UK726 that was preparing for takeoff from the same runway. The two planes together were carrying 322 passengers.
ATC Error and Swift Reaction
The situation took a dangerous turn when an air traffic controller mistakenly cleared the departing UK726 flight for takeoff from the same runway. Captain Sonu Gill, a senior pilot with Vistara, was at the helm of the UK926 flight that was landing. Instead of blindly following the ATC’s instructions, Captain Gill promptly halted her aircraft at the holding point of the parallel runway 29R and alerted the ATC about the mistake.
Imminent Danger Averted
The two planes were reportedly less than 2 kilometers apart, highlighting the severity of the situation. The ATC acted quickly on Captain Gill’s alert and instructed the pilots of the departing flight to abort takeoff. This timely intervention prevented what could have been a disastrous collision.
Safety First and Heroic Humility
Following the incident, the UK726 flight returned to its parking bay for refueling and maintenance checks. Captain Gill’s swift response and her adherence to safety protocols prevented a potential tragedy. However, she humbly downplayed her heroic actions, stating that she was just doing her job.
Investigation and Lessons Learned
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the incident and has temporarily removed the responsible ATC official from duty. The incident has highlighted the challenges of operating parallel runways, especially in busy airports like IGIA.
The incident underscores the importance of enhanced monitoring, strict compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), and continuous training to avoid potential collisions, particularly in situations involving closely spaced runways.
As air traffic increases and airports adopt new runways and operational configurations, ensuring precision, adhering to safety standards, and prioritizing effective communication between pilots and ATC remain essential to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
