Representational imageNew Delhi: A major tragedy was averted at the IGI Airport here Wednesday morning when a Visakhapatnam-bound IndiGo aircraft entered a wrong taxiway where a Jet Airways aircraft was already stationed but was alerted by the Air Traffic Controller.
Regulator DGCA has initiated a probe into the incident which took place around 05.40 am and affected operations at the Indira Gandhi International airport.
IndiGo attributed the incident to "low visibility."
Many flights were delayed while some incoming aircraft were diverted due to the non-availability of runway 28 for over an hour, sources said.
"IndiGo flight 6E 719 (New Delhi-Visakhapatnam) was given taxi permission through C lane and was supposed to hold at Runway 28 but the aircraft commander crossed the runway and realized he was standing in W lane, where a Jet Airways aircraft was already stationed," airport sources said.
"Followings this, IndiGo was contacted to arrange push back toe but it took time and due to poor visibility, toe was guided by a follow-me vehicle.
"During this period all operations were on hold, causing a heavy congestion and consequently flight delays as well," they said.
In a statement, IndiGo said, "IndiGo flight 6E-719 while taxing from taxiway C for runway 28 for departure with Runway Visual Range of 125 meters at Delhi airport missed the runway centerline due to low visibility and found itself taxing towards taxiway W where a Jet Airways B737 aircraft was already stationed to be lined up."
The airline, however, said that its aircraft stopped at an adequate distance from the Jet Airways flight, when directed by the Air Traffic Controller.
