SpiceJet-GoAir mid-air collision averted
NEW DELHI, October 25, 2016
Indian budget airliners SpiceJet and GoAir planes were involved in a “near miss” in the Goa airspace after the latter allegedly changed its flight course, prompting the traffic collision avoidance system in the planes to go off, a report said.
SpiceJet officials said the incident took place on Saturday when their Goa-Hyderabad flight SG 3604 was “in the climb” on the designated flight path assigned by the air traffic controllers, according to a report in the Hindustan Times.
“As the instrument landing system at Goa airport was not available on Saturday, flights were being guided by the ATC. A notice to airmen had been issued in advance that the system will not be available,” said a SpiceJet official.
“The GoAir flight, which should have been in the north-west airspace, entered the north-east airspace where SpiceJet Q400 aircraft VT-SUD was present, prompting TCAS alert,” the official added. “Our crew took evasive action as directed and reported to Goa ATC.”
GoAir did not offer comments for this story, the report said.