Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090858530100.htm

Front Page

Mishap averted at Delhi airport

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: A mishap was averted at Delhi airport on Sunday when a Kingfisher Airlines flight to Lucknow with 94 passengers on board aborted take off on noticing some obstacle on the runway.

The “obstacle” later turned out to be a police vehicle deployed as part of the security arrangements for the arrival of President Pratibha Patil.

Around 7-30 p.m., Kingfisher flight (IT 653) was about to begin its take-off roll when the flight commander noticed orange and red lights at the end of the runway.

According to the airlines officials, the commander followed the normal protocol of aborting take off and taxied the aircraft back to the bay in view of the safety of passengers. Another aircraft lined up for take off reported the same to the Air Traffic Control.

According to airport sources, the lights seen at the end of the runway were found to be that of a police vehicle.