Mumbai:
A kingfisher ATR 72-500 aircraft going to Jamnagar in Gujarat with 30 passengers was given clearance to take off by Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) around 1:30 pm, when it was ready to take off, it was asked to abort.
There was another aircraft GO Air which had just landed was also asked to vacate a runway but instead of exiting from there, it exited from another taxiway.
This meant that both aircraft at some point were on the same runway, but sources say they were not on collision course.
The Kingfisher plane was ordered to move from the main runway to the taxiway 300 metres away for another Kingfisher flight from Delhi to land. The sudden maneuver required of the pilot went off smoothly.
Meanwhile another Kingfisher aircraft was coming in to land from Delhi, at that point the runway was still occupied by two aircraft - Kingfisher ATR and Go Air.
Ideally ATC should have asked the incoming Kingfisher airline to go circling since there were two planes on the ground.
But airport officials stress there was no danger of a collision. They say that while there was enough time for the Kingfisher flight to move safely off the runway, this is a case of bad traffic planning by Air Traffic Controllers.
There are reports that there was less than ideal separation between two Kingfisher aircraft and it could have been dangerous.
However, Kingfisher sources say, there was separation of 8 nautical miles and it was safe distance.
All this happened in a span of 3-4 minutes.
In keeping with Kingfisher airlines policy of safety and guest comfort above everything else and in accordance with established procedure, the commander decided to return to bay and get the aircraft checked after seeking the concurrence of Mumbai ATC.
The aircraft an ATR 72-500 was checked by an engineering team and took off at 14:50 with all 30 guests and crew on board.
Statement from Kingfisher Airlines:Shortly after Kingfisher Airlines fight IT 4123 operating Mumbai to Bhavnagar had been cleared for takeoff by the ATC Mumbai at 13:36. The commander of this flight was directed by ATC to reject take off immediately.
The Aircraft which was on its initial take off roll immediately aborted takeoff at low speed in compliance with instructions of ATC.
In keeping with Kingfisher airlines policy of safety and guest comfort above everything else and in accordance with established procedure, the commander decided to return to bay and get the aircraft checked after seeking the concurrence of Mumbai ATC.
The aircraft an ATR 72-500 was checked by an engineering team and took off at 14:50 with all 30 guests and crew on board.