Major collision averted at Delhi airport, plane lands on wrong runway

A major collision was narrowly averted at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, when an Ariana Afghan Airlines flight from Kabul mistakenly landed on an active runway from which another aircraft was preparing for takeoff. The serious incident prompted an immediate investigation by the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), highlighting critical concerns regarding air traffic control communication and pilot adherence to landing clearances.

The Ariana Afghan Airlines A310 aircraft, operating flight FG-311, was cleared to land on runway 29L. However, the pilot-in-command (PIC) instead brought the aircraft down on runway 29R. The PIC reported a loss of Instrument Landing System (ILS) guidance at four nautical miles from the runway, necessitating a visual approach. Despite this claim, Air Traffic Control (ATC) records confirm that the pilot acknowledged clearance for runway 29L, raising questions about the sequence of events leading to the deviation.

Following the landing, the pilot stated noticing the error and immediately reported it. The PIC attributed the runway deviation to the alleged ILS system failure and subsequent loss of lateral guidance, particularly challenging given the poor visibility conditions at the time. However, the DGCA official noted that it remains unclear whether an actual issue with the aircraft's ILS system occurred or if other factors contributed to the misjudgment.

This incident underscores the critical importance of precision navigation systems and strict adherence to established protocols in high-traffic airport environments. The ongoing DGCA probe will meticulously examine flight data recorders, cockpit voice recorders, and ATC communications to determine the exact cause of the deviation and implement necessary preventative measures to enhance civil aviation safety in India.