Kingfisher Red Airlines pilot admits mistake

Kolkata, Nov 6 (UNI) The pilot of the Kingfisher Red flight today admitted that his aircraft advanced onto the runway from the ''holding point'' on the taxiway yesterday when a Jet Air flight from Guwahati was about to land at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International airport.

'' We are holding an inquiry into the incident and collecting all evidence, including details of the communication between the pilot and the Air Traffic Control (ATC), '' Regional Director, Air Safety (East) H N Mishra said.

'' Prima facie the pilot of the Kingfisher Red flight has admitted his mistake but there may be other lapses and we are also looking into it, '' he added.

The Aizwal-bound Kingfisher Red plane had been cleared by the ATC to move onto the taxiway and proceed towards the runway. But it was instructed to stop at a distance away from the runway. The aircraft, however, advanced towards the runway with its nose portruding onto the runway.

The pilot of the Jet Air flight from Guwahati, which was in the final stage of landing, noticed it and immediately informed the ATC, which asked him to abort landing and make a circuit over the aircraft.

The ATC then told the Kingfisher to back out a little from the spot where it was standing.

The Jet Air flight then landed safely. Airport officials described the incident as a ''surface hazard'' with chances of an accident.

The right wing of the Jet Air plane could have hit the nose of the Kingfisher Red aircraft during landing, an official added.

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