Near Miss at Ahmedabad Airport: Air India and IndiGo Aircraft Encounter
A narrow escape occurred at Ahmedabad airport on Wednesday evening when an Air India aircraft took an incorrect turn on the taxiway, placing it directly in the path of a departing IndiGo flight. The incident involving two narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft highlighted critical moments of ground movement tension at one of India's busy aviation hubs.
The Sequence of the Ground Incident
The mishap unfolded as Air India flight AI 2493, which had just arrived from Mumbai, was taxiing after landing. Due to an inadvertent wrong turn, the aircraft entered the same taxiway occupied by IndiGo flight 6E 5160, which was preparing for its scheduled departure to Mumbai.
According to eyewitness reports and airline sources, the two Airbus A320 jets came within approximately 200 metres of each other. The proximity of the two aircraft triggered immediate precautionary measures, leading both pilots to bring their respective planes to a complete halt to prevent a collision.
Airline Responses and Safety Protocols
Both Air India and IndiGo have issued official statements regarding the event. Air India confirmed that the aircraft took an incorrect turn during the taxiing phase following its landing from Mumbai. The airline emphasized that there was no compromise to the safety of the passengers or the crew on board. Following the incident, the Air India aircraft was towed back to its designated parking bay.
IndiGo reported that while the incident caused a brief delay for flight 6E 5160 during its taxiing phase, the aircraft eventually departed without further issue and landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. The airline noted that relevant authorities were notified immediately following the close encounter.
Regulatory Investigation and Recurring Concerns
The incident has been officially reported to the regulatory authorities, and a formal investigation has been initiated to determine the root cause of the wrong turn. This investigation will likely focus on cockpit communication, ground control instructions, or navigational errors during taxiing.
This event is particularly notable as it follows a similar ground movement mishap involving the two carriers earlier this year. In February, the wingtips of an Air India Airbus A320 and an IndiGo A320 scraped each other while taxiing at Mumbai airport, an incident that necessitated technical inspections for both aircraft. The recurrence of such ground-level incidents raises questions regarding taxiway management and pilot adherence to ground navigation protocols at major Indian airports.
Key Takeaways
- Close Proximity: Two Airbus A320 aircraft (Air India AI 2493 and IndiGo 6E 5160) came within roughly 200 metres of each other due to a wrong turn at Ahmedabad airport.
- Operational Impact: While there were no injuries or safety compromises to passengers, the incident required the Air India plane to be towed and caused a brief delay for the IndiGo flight.
- Investigation Underway: Regulatory authorities have been notified, and a formal probe has been launched to investigate the cause of the inadvertent turn.