Near-Miss at Mumbai International Airport

An Air India passenger jet carrying 150 passengers narrowly missed colliding with a military helicopter.
Near-Miss at Mumbai International Airport
2/9/2009
Updated:
2/9/2009
BANGALORE, India—A collision between an Air India jet and an army helicopter was averted at Mumbai International Airport on Monday when the pilot of the jet applied the emergency brake upon seeing the helicopter land on the same runway. The jet had 150 passengers aboard.

The Indian Air Force helicopter was part of a fleet of three helicopters carrying President Pratibha Patil’s entourage.

The media reported that both jet and helicopter had permission to use the runway 27. However, the jet had to abort the take-off at the last moment and exit through the taxiway. Later, it took off with new tires.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered probe into the incident.