Major tragedy averted at Coimbatore airport

COIMBATORE: A major accident was averted on Saturday at the airport here after the lady pilot of an Spicejet aircraft managed to apply brakes on time thereby preventing the wing of her plane from crashing into that of the parked Air Deccan flight.

The incident took place as the pilot of the Delhi-bound Spicejet flight noticed the parked Bangalore-bound Air Deccan aircraft on the same runway, while moving to take-off.

Sensing trouble she applied brakes well before the wings of her plane came in contact with that of the other flight, airport sources said.
   
Both flights were full of passengers and the collision of the wings could have resulted in a major accident, they said.
   
As a safety measure, over 200 passengers from both the flights were disembarked and arrangements were being made to toe the Spicejet away from that of the Air Deccan plane without any damage to either the planes.
    
A senior airport official later clarified that the Air Deccan flight was bound for Mumbai and not to Bangalore as reported earlier. The incident took place as passengers were boarding the flight.

He said just around the same time, the Spicejet came onto the runway to take-off. "There was slight manoeuvring and judgement mistake," by its pilot.

However, the pilot managed to apply the brakes, before a collision between wings, which could have resulted in a major tragedy, an official said under the condition of anonymity.

The planes were 'segregated' by the Airport staff, with utmost care, to prevent any operational mishap.
   
Both flights took off to their respective destinations between 1 PM and 1.30 PM, airport sources said.