BENGALURU: Airline operator Indigo has reported that two of its aircraft operating on the Coimbatore-Hyderabad and Bengaluru-Kochi routes came close to colliding with each other during operations on July 10th.
The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) was triggered on both flights over Bengaluru airspace and the collision was averted. According to a statement by Indigo, a resolution advisory was triggered for flights 6E 779 and 6E 6505, which means that pilots have to respond immediately to the advisory and if they are unable to do so, the safety of the flight is jeopardized.
While Indigo did not elaborate on the exact situation that occurred, it is learnt that at one point of time, both planes were within 4 miles of each other and this triggered the TCAS system which monitors the airspace around each plane and generates alarms if any other plane with similar equipment is found to be too close.
All aircraft with a maximum take-off mass of over 5700 kilograms or carrying more than 19 passengers must have this system installed according to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Following the incident, Indigo reported the same to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.