Close call: Air India, AI Express planes come face-to-face at Mumbai airport

MUMBAI: An Air India flight from Mumbai to Delhi on Tuesday aborted its take-off run as an Air India Express aircraft that had landed seconds ago was still on the runway, said an aviation source.The incident occurred around 9.40 pm when Air India flight AI 816 to Delhi entered the runway 27 of Mumbai airport to begin its take-off run.Air India Express flight from Bagdogra IX 1547 had just landed on the same runway, said an aviation source. “The crew discontinued the take-off run after receiving an instruction from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and returned to the bay,” said an Air India spokesperson. The aircraft will undergo mandatory checks in accordance with standard operating procedures, he added.Sources said the Air India Express aircraft, which had arrived from Siliguri, had not yet vacated the runway when the Delhi-bound Air India flight began preparing for take-off from the same runway.The Air India flight, AI816, was scheduled to operate with a wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, while Air India Express flight AIX1547 was operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8, according to the sources.In a statement, an Air India spokesperson confirmed that the take-off was aborted on the instructions of air traffic control but did not provide further details.“The crew operating flight AI816 from Mumbai to Delhi on July 7 discontinued the take-off run after receiving an instruction to do so from the Air Traffic Control and returned to the bay," the Air India spokesperson said in the statement.The spokesperson added, “The aircraft would undergo necessary checks as per standard operating procedures," adding that “an alternative arrangement was being made to fly the passengers to their destination at the earliest."You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in MumbaiStay updated with the latest Mumbai news. Download the TOI App.