Structures, objects pose threat to flight ops at Kolkata airport

Hours after the Air India flight bound for London's Gatwick airport with 242 passengers onboard crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon, questions in connection with safety and security, mainly during take-off and landing of flights at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport, are being raised.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

An Ahmedabad-bound flight from Kolkata was forced to return mid-air on Wednesday afternoon after the runway at Ahmedabad airport was abruptly closed following an Air India aircraft incident, airport officials confirmed.

The Ahmedabad airport on Thursday resumed operations with limited flights after a brief halt following the crash of an Air India's UK-bound passenger aircraft.

"Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, is now operational with limited flights," a spokesperson of the airport said.

IndiGo flight 6E318, operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft (registration VTIPP), had departed from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 1.49 p.m. local time. Shortly after takeoff, the flight was recalled due to a closure at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, where a separate Air India aircraft had encountered a runway incident, prompting emergency protocol.

The IndiGo flight, which had 179 passengers on board, was scheduled to land in Ahmedabad at 2.52 p.m. but was directed to return to Kolkata while airborne. It landed safely and was assigned stand number 105 upon return.

No injuries were reported, and passengers were deboarded without incident.