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last mo.

Afghan Flight Lands on Delhi Departure Runway After Clearance for 29L

Investigators are reviewing crew accounts after a preliminary review found correct ATC instructions alongside a reported ILS loss on final approach.

Image
An Ariana Afghan Airlines flight mistakenly landed on Delhi Airport's take-off-only runway, triggering a major security scare. (Representative image)
The incident occurred on Sunday and a probe has been launched into the matter.
The Delhi airport manages over 1,200 flights daily and operates four runways. (Representational image / Vijayanand Gupta / HT Photo)

Overview

  • Ariana Afghan Airlines flight FG-311, an Airbus A310 from Kabul, touched down on runway 29R at IGI Airport around 12:06 pm despite being cleared to land on 29L.
  • Runway 29R was being used for departures, and an Air India flight to Riyadh had just taken off moments earlier, but no collision occurred.
  • The pilot-in-command reported losing ILS guidance about 4 nautical miles from the runway, then executed a visual approach that led to the wrong-runway landing.
  • The DGCA has opened an investigation, sought written statements from the crew, and its preliminary assessment indicates ATC issued and the crew acknowledged clearance for 29L.
  • Officials say the crew realised the runway mix-up only after vacating, and regulators plan to liaise with Afghan authorities as they work to determine whether equipment or other factors were to blame.