dna impact: AAI orders probe into 'missing' radio frequency at Mumbai ATC

Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman RK Srivastava has ordered an investigation into primary radio frequency of the Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower 'going missing' for a daty.

dna had published a report on January 12 about the primary frequency at the ATC tower mysteriously going down and coming up equally mysteriously a day later.

The radio frequency on which the ATC tower communicates with pilots remained functionally dead for an entire day late last month due to some 'external' factor.

Though ATC officials immediately shifted to a backup frequency, the situation would have turned serious had the backup frequencies too malfunctioned. When contacted by dna on Thursday, Srivastava asked us to call later.

However, his phone remained unreachable afterwards.

A complaint on the 'missing frequency' was lodged with the Wireless Planning and Co-ordination (WPC) wing of the ministry of communications.

Sources said Srivastava, who was reportedly in Mumbai on Tuesday for a routine visit, reportedly discussed the issue and asked an officer of the rank of GM to investigate and submit a report.

Although investigators are yet to trace the exact reasons, insiders claim that the problem was rectified after CNS officials asked Air India officials to to check if the communication devices in their planes were fine. Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) department maintains ATC infrastructure.