Watch: IndiGo lands on Air India runway, planes come dangerously close

In another runway accident, hundreds of passengers almost died when an IndiGo plane landed on the same runway from which an Air India flight had just taken off from Mumbai airport.

The flights of two Airbus A320neo aircraft came dangerously close to each other on Saturday evening (8 June).

IndiGo flight 5053 had taken off from Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport (IDR) and landed on runway 27, while Air India flight 657 took off for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), aviation news agency Simple Flying reported., in a report.

According to the report, the Air India Airbus managed to take off and take off without incident, but it probably did not notice that another aircraft was approaching from behind.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said an air traffic control official had been relieved of duty and an investigation had been launched into the incident.

In the footage circulating on social media platforms, the two planes can be seen on the same runway – the Air India jet taking off and the IndiGo plane landing.

IndiGo said in a statement that the pilot of the Indore-Mumbai flight followed air traffic control instructions.

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“On June 8, 2024, IndiGo flight 6E 6053 from Indore was cleared to land by Air Traffic Control at Mumbai Airport. The pilot in command continued the approach and landing, following the instructions of Air Traffic Control. At IndiGo, passenger safety is our top priority and we have reported the incident as per regulations,” it said.

Meanwhile, Air India also claimed that air traffic control had given its plane clearance to take off.

“AI657 from Mumbai to Trivandrum was on takeoff roll on June 8. The Air India aircraft was cleared by air traffic control to enter the runway and was subsequently cleared for takeoff. The Air India aircraft continued the takeoff roll as per established procedures. The authorities have initiated an investigation to find out more about the clearance given to the airline,” it said in a statement.

(With contributions from agencies)