Kolkata Airport Near Crash March 22, 2026: In what could have turned into one of India’s worst aviation disasters, a quick decision by a co-pilot prevented a catastrophic collision at Kolkata Airport nearly 15 years ago. The incident involved a fully loaded Hajj flight carrying around 440 passengers, moments away from landing in extremely low visibility.
A Routine Landing That Turned Critical (Kolkata Airport Near Crash)
The incident dates back to 2008 or 2009, during a winter morning when dense fog had reduced visibility to around 300 meters. At the time, Kolkata Airport operated under a Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS), which required at least this level of visibility for safe landing.
A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747, chartered for Hajj यात्रियों traveling from Jeddah to Kolkata, was preparing to land. Onboard were hundreds of pilgrims returning home, along with crew members.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) had confirmed the runway was clear and granted the aircraft permission to land.
What Went Wrong on the Runway
At the same time, two aircraft—an Alliance Air ATR and a Jet Airways flight—were waiting at the holding point via the Alpha taxiway for takeoff clearance.
Under standard aviation rules, no two aircraft are allowed on the same runway simultaneously.
However, due to poor visibility, the Alliance Air aircraft mistakenly crossed the holding point and entered the runway before the Hajj flight had landed.
According to officials, ATC visibility was so limited that only a small portion of the runway near the control tower was visible. The intrusion went unnoticed.
The Critical Moment at 100 Feet
As the Boeing 747 descended to about 100 feet above the runway, the situation turned extremely dangerous.
Inside the cockpit:
- The senior pilot (commander) was focused on instruments
- The co-pilot was monitoring the runway visually
It was the co-pilot who suddenly noticed something alarming — another aircraft on the runway.
Without hesitation, the co-pilot shouted:
“Go Around!”
This command instructs the pilot to abort landing and immediately climb back into the air.
Seconds That Saved Hundreds of Lives (Kolkata Airport Near Crash)
The senior pilot reacted instantly, pulling the aircraft upward without questioning the instruction.
At that point:
- The landing gear had already been deployed
- The aircraft was extremely close to touchdown
According to later accounts, the aircraft’s wheels came dangerously close to the Alliance Air plane.
Even a delay of 1–2 seconds could have resulted in a devastating crash.
Chaos Averted, Disaster Prevented
Once airborne again, the Hajj flight informed ATC about the obstruction. Only then did controllers realize what had happened.
The Alliance Air pilot admitted the mistake and moved the aircraft away via another taxiway. After ensuring the runway was clear, the Hajj flight safely landed.
Investigation and Aftermath
The investigation was led by senior ATC officials at the time. The incident highlighted:
- The dangers of low visibility operations
- Limitations of older ILS systems
- The importance of strict runway discipline
While the Alliance Air pilot faced consequences, eyewitness accounts from other pilots remained cautious and professional.
Why This Incident Still Matters (Kolkata Airport Near Crash)
This near-miss is a powerful reminder of how aviation safety often depends on split-second decisions.
Key takeaways:
- Advanced landing systems like CAT III ILS (now installed in many airports) allow safer landings even in very low visibility
- Human vigilance remains critical despite automation
- Strict adherence to runway protocols is non-negotiable
What Could Have Happened
With 440 passengers onboard and thousands of people waiting at the airport to receive them, the consequences of a crash would have been unimaginable.
Airport officials later admitted that such a disaster could have triggered mass panic and chaos, potentially escalating far beyond the runway.
Official Website: https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/kolkata
Related Article: Kolkata Weather Update March 2026: IMD Issues Orange Alert, Thunderstorms and Strong Winds Expected
