New Delhi, Oct 10: Rajya Sabha MP and noted lawyer R K Anand had a narrow escape today when a major collision involving the six-seater plane he was travelling in and an air force fighter was averted due to the presence of mind shown by the commander of a private plane at the Indira Gandhi Airport here. The near-miss took place this afternoon when the Cessna-90 aircraft carrying Anand from Lucknow was landing after being cleared by the Air Traffic Control.

As the aircraft was about to touch down, its pilot noticed that the air force fighter was about to take off and quickly acted to be airborne again, according to a version given by Anand which was confirmed by civil aviation officials.

Officials said the fighter was taking off from the main runway (10-28) while the private aircraft was cleared for landing on the secondary runway (09-27).

The fighter pilot instead lined up at the secondary runway taking the commander of private plane by surprise. The ATC officials directed the c-90 pilot to "go around" giving time for it to later land safely.
Giving her version, chairman of the Airports Authority of India S K Narula said an "Indian Air Force plane came to runway number 27 without getting any clearance from the ATC, which had already cleared the small plane for landing."


Asked about the follow up action, he said the ATC had referred the matter to director general of civil aviation, who conducted an immediate inquiry.
"The DGCA officials will take up the matter with the air force authorities tomorrow," he added.

Bureau Report