Aviation authority sacks air traffic controller after near-miss at Mumbai airport involving Air India and IndiGo flights

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has reacted decisively by removing an Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) from the roster following a serious incident involving two aircraft on the same runway at Mumbai airport. In the incident, which occurred on Saturday morning, June 8, an Air India aircraft was accelerating for takeoff while an IndiGo aircraft was landing behind it on the same runway.

Air India domestic flight AI657 was en route from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram and had begun takeoff, accelerated and lifted off. At the same time, IndiGo domestic flight 6E5053, which was coming from Indore, overshot the runway and landed. The potential disaster was captured on camera by aircraft spotters present at the scene.

An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed that flight 6E5053 had received clearance to land from air traffic control at Mumbai airport. The pilot in command followed air traffic control instructions and landed accordingly. He stressed that passenger safety was the top priority and that the incident had been duly reported.

A statement from Air India is still pending.