ATC was aware of President's arrival: DGCA

Clearly in the dock after a Mumbai-Delhi flight (IC-866) aborted take off at the last moment at Santacruz Airport when two helicopters from Presidents entourage, suddenly landed on the tarmac, the DGCA said that the Air Traffic Control (ATC) was fully aware of the VVIP movement.

A statement issued by the DGCA said, "Mumbai Airport, the busiest airport in India, was witnessing heavy air traffic and operations today morning. The ATC Mumbai was aware of the Presidential visit and was watching the approach movement of the Presidential convoy of helicopters. At that time an aircraft of Air India was on the active runway-27. The ATC, noticing movement of the aircraft on the runway, asked the aircraft to immediately apply breaks and exit through the taxiway. The aircraft exited immediately and the helicopters landed safely."

Joint director general, DGCA, A K Chopra arrived from Delhi to carry out an investigation into the incident. The investigation was being conducted under rule 77 of the Aircrafts Act.

After the helicopters landed in front of the aircraft, the pilot captain S S Kohli applied emergency break jamming one of the wheels of the aircraft in the process.
u00a0
More than 148 passengers were aboard flight IC 866 at the time.

An Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) spokesperson refused to comment saying, "I am not aware of any such incident. It is the Air Traffic Control (ATC) who will be aware of it."

The President was proceeding to Gondia in Vidarbha region to participate in the Founder's Day celebrations of Manoharbhai Patel Institute of Engineering and Technology and to release the commemorative postage stamp on Jagnade Maharaj.