DGCA cracks whip over spate of recent aircraft overshooting and tail-tip incidents, issues notice to 12 pilots day after expressing serious concern

After yet another aircraft mishap occurring due to faulty landing, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a message to airlines expressing their concern over the rise in number incidents of overshooting, skidding, hard landing, etc. It further states that heads of flight safety must include an instruction to refrain from landing with an unstabilised approach during inclement weather conditions in their safety briefings to pilots.

The message also highlights that safety is paramount and non-adherence to safety standards shall invite punitive action.

Read the DGCA message here:

This move by the DGCA come after three landing mishaps have occurred in 24 hours around the country.

Kolkata - Spice Jet veering off-center 

On Tuesday, a SpiceJet Pune- Kolkata flight nearly ran off the runway at  Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata after landing. The flight veered off to the right of the center line and ended up damaging four-runway lights. Avoiding a major mishap, the pilots were able to bring the plane back to the runway's center.

Mumbai - Spice Jet Aircraft overshooting

On Monday night, a Spice Jet Jaipur-Mumbai aircraft had skidded overshot the runway at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport as it landed on the runway. While all the passengers were evacuated safely, there was a temporary closure of the main runway in the rain-lashed city airport.

Kozhikode - Air India 'Tail Tip'

Earlier on Monday morning, an Air India Dammam-Kozhikode bound flight with 180 passengers onboard suffered 'tail tip' at Kozhikode airport during landing after its tail touched down the runway. All passengers are reported to be safe and the aircraft has also not reported any damage.

Close Shave At Mangalore Airport As Air India Flight Overshoots Runway, Gets Stuck In Run-off Grass

Surat - Spice Jet Aircraft overshooting

On Sunday, a SpiceJet flight from Bhopal overshot the runway after landing at the Surat airport in Gujarat. All the 48 passengers and crew onboard the plane were safely evacuated.

Mangalore - Air India overshooting

Earlier on Sunday, a tragedy was averted at the Mangalore international airport as an Air India flight overshot the runway and was stopped just in time. All operations at the airport currently had been shut down. The flight was coming in from Dubai and had 183 passengers on board. No injuries had been reported and all passengers were deboarded and the plane was towed away later.

'Tail Tip' Nearly Causes Tragedy For Dammam-Kozhikode Air India Flight, All 180 Passengers Safe

Apart from the DGCA issuing a message, the agency on June 30, had also grounded 12 pilots who were operating the six flights that have experienced these close calls since last Sunday. The agency has started issuing show cause notices to the 12 pilots from Wednesday and will give each of them 15 days to respond.