DGCA probing air scare involving Sonia's flight

New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) Aviation officials today downplayed the September 10 incident when a plane carrying UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi got involved in air-miss situation with a Virgin Atlantic flight near the national capital.

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Kanu Gohain said the incident was not one which could have resulted in a mishap. Still a probe has been ordered to identify shortcomings in the system.

''There was no unsafe situation and both planes were on radars of the Air Traffic Control,'' he told reporters.

No airport falling on the route of both aircraft, then flying over Punjab, reported any traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) warning, he said.

Still, aircraft controllers said the two planes were just six miles apart while guidelines stipulate that they should be at least 10 miles apart when airborne.

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