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Mumbai's Airport: "Air Traffic Controller Suspended"

Writer's picture: VINOTHKUMAR GVINOTHKUMAR G


A recent incident at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has raised concerns about the safety of air traffic control procedures. On June 8, 2024, a video went viral showing an IndiGo flight landing on the same runway as an Air India flight taking off, with the two aircraft narrowly avoiding a collision.


### Investigation Underway


The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the air traffic controller (ATC) involved in the incident, pending further investigation. The ATC Guild has maintained that the clearance given to the two flights was technically accurate, but the incident highlights the challenges faced by ATCs in managing high-density traffic at airports like Mumbai.


### High-Traffic Environment

Mumbai airport is known for its high traffic volume, with approximately 46 arrivals and departures per hour on a single runway. In such situations, ATCs must make quick decisions to ensure safe separation between aircraft. However, the recent incident suggests that even with good visibility, there is still room for improvement in the procedures.


### ATC Guild Perspective

Alok Yadav, general secretary of the ATC Guild, explained that the separation minima between two aircraft can be reduced if the visibility is good. In this case, the visibility was good, and there was no air proximity situation with respect to the landing IndiGo flight and the taking off Air India flight. The ATC controller is allowed to reduce separation minima if reasonable assurance has been established by visualizing both aircraft.


### Calls for Accountability

The incident has sparked calls for accountability, with some demanding that the ATC staff involved face jail time for putting passengers in danger. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, a freelance writer, expressed his concerns on social media, stating that the ATC staff responsible should go to jail unless the Indigo pilot disobeyed orders.


### Future Measures

The DGCA has launched an inquiry to determine the cause of the incident and will implement new measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols and the need for continuous improvement in air traffic control procedures.


### Conclusion

The recent near-miss at Mumbai airport highlights the challenges faced by air traffic controllers in managing high-density traffic and the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols. The suspension of the ATC staff involved and the ongoing investigation will help identify the root cause of the incident and ensure that measures are taken to prevent such close calls in the future.


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