Alert ATC averts mishap on Chennai runway

Chennai: An alert ATC and an even more alert pilot who noticed an Air India plane stranded on the runway prevented a major catastrophe. A second flight coming in to land even as the AI plane stood on the runway could have led to a collision at the Chennai airport on Wednesday afternoon. That flight was to land soon after the AI flight, which was in distress after hydraulic failure and stood stock still on the runway.

The pilot of the stranded aircraft informed the ATC of the emergency at once and the ATC in turn alerted the pilot of the aircraft in the sky even as it had begun its descent. The pilot coming in to land had also noticed the plane standing on the runway and after quick consultation with the ATC he swiftly shifted into ascent mode to gain a safe height above the airport runway.

The swift action by ATC and pilot averted a major tragedy. The Air India flight AI 429, an Airbus 320, carrying 180 passengers and 5 crew members, from New Delhi landed on the runway at around 1.30 pm and stopped midway due to a hydraulic snag. AI spokesperson said there was an emergency landing situation at the Chennai airport due to hydraulic snag but refused to elaborate.

All passengers on the aircraft were to deplane safely at around 2.30 pm after the stranded aircraft was moved to bay number 57 by a tow truck.

“It was stuck on the runway for nearly an hour forcing not only the Kochi — Chennai flight to go swiftly into ascending mode, but also other flights arriving from Bengaluru, Kolkata and Tiruchy to go around in the sky before coming in to land,” airport sources said. Departure of at least five flights were delayed.