Another mid-air collision averted

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

CHENNAI, MARCH 13: Yet another mid-air collision was averted over the Chennai airspace on Thursday, thanks to the alert staff manning the Air Traffic Control here. Airport sources told The Indian Express that a Jet Airways Boeing 737 aircraft flying between Chennai and Mumbai, was in danger of going into the path of an Indonesian Airlines Jumbo Jet Boeing 747 aircraft, but the ATC diverted the Jet Airways aircraft just in time.The Jet Airways flight number 464 operated by Captain Lewis, which took off from Chennai airport at 9.14 am on Thursday, was advised to fly on a different track than the normal route due to heavy air traffic. The Jet Airways pilot (flying from east to west) was instructed to join the normal route after climbing an altitude of 39,000 feet, since an Indonesian Airlines aircraft, from Jeddah to Surabiah (near Kuala Lumpur), was flying on a reciprocal route at 37,000 feet.

According to sources, Jet Airways pilot reported to the ATC in Chennai that he had climbed to 39,000 feet and he wasgoing back to the normal route. But within minutes, the route radar controller spotted the aircraft resuming normal track and proceeding head on toward the Indonesian aircraft.The controller immediately took charge of both flights and guided them.The National Airports Division (NAD) are taking up the matter with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and an inquiry is being launched.

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