Sudden closure of NSCB airport, flights diverted

Kolkata, Nov 5(UNI) The Sudden closure of the main runway of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport this morning led to diversion of at least seven Kolkata-bound flights to different destinations.

''We had to close the main runway for one and a half hours for carrying out emergency repair works. With the upgradation work on the secondary runway, all the incoming flights had to be diverted,'' NSCB Airport Director V K Monga told UNI.

The closure was done to complete the repair works in the main runway before allowing the aircrafts to run. This was necessary for the safety of the flights, he said.

He explained that a contingency plan for diversion of aircrafts had been done at the coordination meeting between the Airlines and Airports Authority of India in case of emergency, he said.

The Air India flight from London was diverted to Delhi while a Deccan Air fligt from Ranchi and an Indian flight from Silchar were both diverted to Bhubaneswar. A Sahara Airlines flight from Mumbai via Lucknow was also diverted to Patna and Jet Air flight was sent to Guwahati.

UNI XC-JYN VD KP1741