Dubai: Hundreds of lives saved after collision between two India-bound flights averted

As per the preliminary report, Hyderabad bound EK-524 was rolling for take-off without ATC clearance.
Emirates planes are parked at the Dubai International Airport. (File Photo | AP)
Emirates planes are parked at the Dubai International Airport. (File Photo | AP)

NEW DELHI: A collision between two India-bound Emirates planes was averted at Dubai airport on Sunday. India’s aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has sought the probe report from the UAE authorities. Flight EK-524 to Hyderabad was scheduled for take-off at 9:45 pm while Dubai-Bengaluru flight was also scheduled to take off from the same runway. According to the Emirates flight schedule, there was a five-minute gap between the departure time of both flights.

Reports said that the Hyderabad-bound plane was accelerating for take-off from runway 30R when the crew saw another aircraft coming in the same direction at high speed. Take-off was immediately instructed to be aborted by the ATC. The aircraft slowed down safely and cleared the runway via taxiway N4.

Flight EK-568 to Bangalore, which was rolling for departure, was to take-off from the same runway --- 30R. After the ATC intervention, the Bengaluru-bound Emirates flight took off and the Hyderabad-bound flight went back and departed a few minutes later. A probe was launched by the UAE’s Air Accident Investigation Sector. The DGCA has asked the UAE officials to share the report.

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