Stray dog suddenly reached the runway of Kolkata Airport, a major accident was averted due to the alertness of the pilot
Kolkata Airport : A major plane crash was almost averted due to the sudden arrival of a stray dog on the runway of Kolkata-based Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) on Thursday. Due to the amazing timing of the aircraft pilot and the immediate decisive action taken by the Air Traffic Control (ATC), the lives of hundreds of passengers were safely saved. However, this incident has raised serious questions on the surveillance system of the high-security area of Kolkata Airport, one of the major international airports of the country.
Ranchi bound flight stopped takeoff, plane coming from Chennai diverted
According to the information given by the airport authorities, an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Ranchi was completely ready for takeoff after reaching the runway. Just a few seconds before takeoff, the pilot noticed a stray dog roaming on the runway. Sensing the danger of a possible accident, the pilot immediately alerted Kolkata ATC officials without any delay and aborted the takeoff. At the same time, another Indigo plane coming from Chennai to Kolkata was in the process of landing. As soon as information about the presence of the dog on the runway was received, ATC immediately took alert action and refused to allow the Chennai flight to land in Kolkata due to security reasons and directed it to divert to an alternate airport. On the orders of ATC, the aircraft was diverted to Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal in West Bardhaman district, about 187 km from Kolkata, where the aircraft made a safe landing.
Investigation into security lapse begins, a day before Air India had received fake hijack threat (Kolkata Airport)
The administration has heaved a sigh of relief as all the passengers are safe, but the airport management has issued orders to investigate how a dog entered the runway area, which is considered extremely sensitive and safe, without anyone noticing. It is worth noting that a day before this, on Wednesday morning, there was a huge stir at the same airport due to a threat to hijack an Air India plane. Police investigation made shocking revelations in this case, after which a passenger resident of Sodepur in North 24 Parganas district was arrested. During interrogation, it was revealed that the man's office was sending him to an African country against his will and he had created this fake hijack drama to avoid leaving his wife who was suffering from cancer and to cancel her foreign trip.