Delhi Runway Near-Miss Prompts AAIB Demand for ATC Video at IGI Airport

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has called for urgent, mandatory installation of video and background audio recording systems in air traffic control (ATC) towers. This Air Traffic Control recommendations followed a serious runway safety incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in November 2025.

The Runway Incident

The recommendation stems from a near-miss involving Ariana Afghan Airlines runway incident flight AFG311 from Kabul. On November 23, 2025, the Airbus A310 parallel runways flight landed on a runway designated for departures.

The aircraft touched down on runway 29R. This was despite being cleared to land on runway 29L, which was reserved for arrivals. At the same time, an Air India flight was taking off from the same runway 29R.

Investigators described this situation as conditions ripe for a major accident. The two parallel runways, 29L/11R and 29R/11L, are separated by only 360 meters. They operate in a segregated dependent mode for safety reasons.

Under this mode, one runway is used exclusively for landings. The other runway is used only for takeoffs. The AAIB report noted that the Airbus A310 crew appeared confused. This confusion occurred between the two runways amid low visibility conditions.

According to the preliminary report, the crew lost the Instrument Landing System (ILS) signal. This happened about four nautical miles from touchdown. They were then unable to differentiate between the two runways due to poor visibility.

AAIB’s Rationale for ATC Recording

The AAIB’s interim safety recommendation focuses on closing a critical gap in evidence. The bureau stated that ATC units must be equipped with devices. These devices must record controllers’ actions and communications. This is done while they perform tower duties.

The primary goal of installing AAIB ATC video recording systems is to analyze decision-making. It helps understand controller actions during abnormal or high-risk situations. This visual data will allow the AAIB and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to reconstruct events with higher precision.

• Key Gap Highlighted: The investigation into the wrong-runway landing Delhi incident was hampered by data loss. The aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder data (CVR) could not be retrieved at Delhi IGI Airport because the aircraft was allowed to operate its next scheduled flight back to Kabul the same afternoon.
• Result of Data Loss: This action resulted in the CVR data being overwritten. The loss of this data limits insight into the cockpit decision-making process. The proposed ATC recording systems would provide a necessary, independent data source.

Regulatory and Industry Impact

The AAIB stressed that these international airport safety systems must be implemented on a priority basis. This is especially true at all major international hubs. The recordings must be used solely for investigation purposes. This ensures transparency and trust among aviation professionals.

This move aligns with global efforts to enhance safety oversight. Organizations like the FAA and IATA continually advocate for better data capture. This data helps to prevent future runway incursions and deviations. The DGCA is expected to review the recommendation. Its implementation would mark a significant upgrade. It would strengthen India’s aviation safety landscape.

Better data collection is essential for all aviation stakeholders. It impacts airlines, airports, and air traffic service providers directly. The Air Traffic Control recommendations aim to mitigate risks associated with human factors. These factors include confusion, stress, and low visibility operations. This proactive step helps minimize future risks in India's rapidly expanding airport network. For more commercial aviation news, visit the link above.