Major accident averted at Hyderabad Airport due to landing-takeoff overlap

Hyderabad: A major accident was narrowly avoided at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad on March 9, 2025, after Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials cleared an Indigo Airlines flight for landing while another plane was preparing for takeoff on the same runway.

According to reports, the ATC had cleared the Indigo flight, traveling from Goa to Visakhapatnam via Shamshabad, for landing. However, as the pilot was preparing the aircraft’s hydraulic gear for landing, he noticed that another plane was already positioned on the runway for takeoff.

Realizing the potential danger, the pilot immediately aborted the landing, took off, and circled in the air for about 10 minutes. The aircraft later landed safely without incident. The passengers onboard, numbering 150, were relieved, and the flight continued its journey to Visakhapatnam shortly after.

While authorities have praised the pilot for his quick thinking, passengers have raised concerns about the ATC's decision to allow both the landing and takeoff simultaneously on the same runway. The incident has sparked discussions about the safety protocols at the airport and how similar situations might be avoided in the future.

This incident follows a series of recent occurrences at RGIA. On January 4, 2025, an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam was diverted to Shamshabad after a technical issue mid-flight. The aircraft landed safely, and all 144 passengers disembarked without injury.

Earlier, on September 24, 2024, an Air India flight from Hyderabad to Tirupati had to make an emergency landing due to an engine problem shortly after takeoff. The ATR-72-600 aircraft returned to Shamshabad, and all passengers were reported safe.

In another incident, passengers of an Akasa Airlines flight to Delhi expressed frustration on July 22, 2024, after a significant delay and unclear information from airline staff. The scheduled departure at 5:00 a.m. was delayed as the aircraft had not yet arrived, leading to disputes between passengers and airline personnel.

As concerns over flight safety and airport operations continue to grow, passengers and aviation authorities alike are calling for increased vigilance and clearer communication to prevent similar incidents.