Summary
- The DGCA has suspended ATC staff in Mumbai after two close A320neo encounters.
- Incident sparks calls for accountability, with some demanding jail time for responsible staff.
- Recent near-collisions highlight challenges with ATC assumptions, multitasking, and distractions.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is taking swift action amid its investigation into the cause of two Airbus A320neos coming dangerously close to each other at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai, India, on Saturday. The country’s aviation regulator confirmed on Sunday that it has “derostered” the air traffic control (ATC) staff overseeing operations at the airport during the incident.
A video of the shocking close call went viral across social media, sparking many questions about whether the pilots or ATC were at fault. Some people reportedly believe the ATC staff involved should face time in jail for putting passengers in danger.
Derostering the staff
Simple Flying first reported the incident on Saturday. In a statement obtained by India TV News, the DGCA released a statement confirming the dangerous scene and that the ATC staff had been suspended.
“DGCA has derostered the ATC staff involved in the incident at Mumbai Airport where an inbound IndiGo flight landed on Runway 27 while an Air India flight was still in the process of taking off.”
Photo: BoeingMan777 | Shutterstock
A DGCA official also reportedly confirmed that an inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the potentially catastrophic error. The aviation regulator will also implement new measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
About the incident
The aircraft involved are both A320neos operated by Indian budget airline IndiGo and the country’s flag carrier, Air India. The IndiGo A320neo, registered as VT-ISV, was operating flight 5053 from Indore. It was on approach on Runway 27 and BOM and touched down seconds after Air India’s A320neo – VT-RTS – had rotated off the runway during its takeoff to Thiruvananthapuram.
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According to The Aviation Herald, VT-ISV was about 1.75 nautical miles short of the runway threshold and around 600 feet above the ground when VT-RTS reached the lined up position on the runway. The two planes came within about 2,130 feet (650 meters) of each other before VT-RTS continued to climb in altitude and increase its distance from VT-ISV.
Photo: BoeingMan777 | Shutterstock
IndiGo reported the incident to the DCG and confirmed the crew of flight 5053 had received landing clearance. The airline also said the pilots complied with ATC’s instructions, allowing them to continue their approach and land. Air India also reported that flight 657 was cleared to enter the runway and continued with its departure in accordance with procedures.
“ATC needs to face jail time for this”
Although a thorough investigation to determine the cause will play out, many people have sounded off about the incident on social media.
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a freelance writer, explained on X that the ATC staff responsible should go to jail.
“Single most dangerous situation I’ve seen in an Indian airport. Don’t know how this happened in Mumbai yesterday, but the ATC needs to face jail time for this – unless the Indigo pilot disobeyed orders.”
The incident is the latest in a string of industry-wide near-miss occurrences in which ATC personnel have been believed to be at fault. Just last week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that incorrect assumptions, multitasking, and distractions among ATC staff led to near-collisions in Austin, Texas, and New York last year.
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