New Delhi: A major mishap was averted at Delhi Airport this morning when two aircraft of private carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet came face-to-face allegedly due to an ATC miscommunication, sources said.
While an IndiGo plane, which had arrived from Lucknow, had over 160 passengers onboard, the Hyderabad-bound SpiceJet aircraft was carrying 187 passengers when the incident took place, they said.
The matter has been reported to the aviation regulator DGCA, which has initiated a probe into the incident.
SpiceJet confirmed the incident and said that at no point of time the safety of its passengers was at risk.
“SpiceJet flight SG 123 operating Delhi-Hyderabad was following ATC instructions at all times at the Delhi airport. While taxiing, the SpiceJet crew observed another aircraft on the same taxiway in the opposite direction. Acting promptly, the SpiceJet crew immediately stopped the aircraft and intimated the ATC,” the airline said in a statement.
“Safety is of utmost and primary concern at SpiceJet, it said adding, “at no stage the safety of passengers and crew was compromised. All concerned authorities were immediately informed,” SpiceJet spokesperson said in the statement.
The IndiGo spokesperson was not available for comments.
Indigo said it was following all ATC instructions at the time of the incident.
“The IndiGo flight 6E-769 (Lucknow-Delhi) while taxing in at Delhi airport today morning, observed another aircraft in front of it. Following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Captain-in-Command took the decision of switching off the engine and reported the incident to ATC,” an IndiGo spokesperson said in the statement.
There has been no unfortunate incident or close shave-off as reported by a section of media, the statement said.
All 176 passengers along with the crew are safe. IndiGo flight was observing ATC instructions all the time at Delhi airport, the spokesperson added.
IndiGo has voluntarily informed the DGCA, the airline said, adding the matter is being investigated by IndiGo safety department and the regulator.
“As an airline we rely upon ATCs traffic advisory and ensure to comply with their instructions. At IndiGo, safety of the passengers, crew and the aircraft are of top priority and at no time it can be compromised,” IndiGo said.
(Agencies)
