India’s civil aviation regulator has launched an investigation after the wingtips of two passenger aircraft briefly came into contact on a runway at Mumbai airport, prompting an evacuation of passengers.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said an Air India aircraft was awaiting departure when an IndiGo plane, taxiing on a parallel route after landing, scraped the tip of its wing.
“The right wingtips of both aircraft touched each other,” the regulator said.
Both airlines confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe. The two Airbus A320 aircraft involved have been grounded for inspection.
The incident took place around 19:30 local time (14:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
The Air India flight was scheduled to depart for Coimbatore in southern India, while the IndiGo aircraft had just arrived from Hyderabad city, the airlines said.
Neither the airlines nor the DGCA have disclosed the number of passengers or crew on board.
However, an executive at one of the airlines told the BBC on the condition of anonymity that Airbus A320 aircraft operating domestic routes in India typically carry between 150 and 186 passengers, with six to eight crew members.
An Air India spokesperson said the aircraft sustained damage to its wingtip and that alternative arrangements were made for affected passengers.
IndiGo also confirmed that all its passengers were safe and had disembarked after parking, adding that an inquiry was under way.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety in India following a series of technical and ground-handling issues.
On Sunday, an Air India flight was grounded following its landing in Bengaluru city after a pilot reported that the fuel control switch had malfunctioned – though the regulator later said no defect was found and the aircraft had completed its flight safely.
In January, the DGCA had launched an investigation after an Air India Airbus A350’s engine sucked in a cargo container while taxiing at Delhi airport.
Authorities have said the incidents are being examined individually in line with standard safety procedures.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com