It was around 12.05 pm on Sunday. Some officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) were busy in the routine maintenance work on the main runway of the Kolkata airport.
They had to complete their work on an emergency basis as the Notam (notice to airmen) was issued regarding the closure of the main runway for only three hours, from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm.
Suddenly, one of the maintenance staff spotted an aircraft preparing to land at the runway. Immediately, he informed other officials and they started waiving flags to catch the attention of the pilot. But all their efforts went in vain as the Thai Air Asia plane landed at the main runway at 12.07 pm.
“Thank God! The aircraft as well as the airport narrowly escaped a disastrous accident,” Gautam Mukherjee, executive director, eastern region, AAI, said in his first reaction to the incident when contacted over the phone. According to sources at the Kolkata airport, a Notam was issued for the routine maintenance of the main runway. During the Notam period, the main runway was totally closed for any air operation.
“The ATC had instructed every incoming and outgoing flight to use the secondary runway. The same instruction was also given to the pilot of the Thai Air Asia flight which was coming from Bangkok with 123 passengers on board. However, due to some strange reason, the pilot guided the aircraft to land at the main runway,” sources revealed.
“The ATC officials were at no fault as few other flights also used the secondary runway after the Notam was issued. They had instructed the Thai Air Asia pilot also to land at the secondary runway but he did not understand it. Later, the pilot apologised” Mr Mukherjee informed.
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Minister & builder in verbal duel
RAJIB CHOWDHURI
Kolkata
June 26: State fire and emergency services minister Javed Ahmed Khan was allegedly manhandled by a builder and his associates when he went to stop the illegal construction of a building in his Kasba constituency. The incident took place at Topsia Road under ward number 66 on Sunday.
The Trinamul Congress MLA rushed to inspect the under-construction multi-storeyed building after two labourers fell from its fourth-floor while working.
Soon after his arrival at the site, the builder, Mohammed Taslim alias Chunnu Mian, confronted him. A verbal duel began between them.
The altercation soon turned physical during which the builder and his associates allegedly manhandled Mr Khan. A police team rushed to the spot to prevent further deterioration of the situation.