Air India flight comes face-to-face with AI Express plane on same runway in Mumbai

A potential runway collision was averted at Mumbai airport on Tuesday night after an Air India flight aborted its take-off on the instructions of air traffic control (ATC).

The incident occurred at around 10 pm when an Air India Express aircraft, which had just landed from Siliguri, was still on the runway as an Air India flight bound for Delhi began its take-off roll on the same runway.

In a statement, Air India confirmed that flight AI816 from Mumbai to Delhi discontinued its take-off run after receiving instructions from ATC. "The crew operating flight AI816 from Mumbai to Delhi on July 7 discontinued the take-off run after receiving an instruction to do so from the Air Traffic Control and returned to the bay," the airline said.

More from India

The airline did not disclose further details about the incident. It added that the aircraft would undergo mandatory safety checks in accordance with standard operating procedures and that alternative arrangements were being made to fly passengers to Delhi at the earliest.

According to sources, flight AI816 was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, while Air India Express flight AIX1547 from Siliguri was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

The number of passengers on board the two aircraft was not immediately known.