A major security alert was triggered at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday when an Ariana Afghan Airlines flight made a potentially dangerous mistake by landing on the wrong runway. The incident has prompted immediate investigations by multiple aviation authorities.
Flight Makes Dangerous Landing Error
The aircraft involved was Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 315, which was arriving from Kabul, Afghanistan. According to airport sources, the plane was supposed to land on runway 29L but instead touched down on runway 29R, which was not the designated runway for its arrival.
The incident occurred around 2:30 PM on Sunday, November 24, 2024, creating a tense situation at one of India's busiest airports. The Airbus A310 aircraft carried 153 passengers and crew members who were completely unaware of the serious safety violation that had just occurred.
Immediate Response and Investigation Launched
Air traffic controllers immediately recognized the error and alerted airport security. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has taken charge of the primary investigation, treating the incident with utmost seriousness given the potential safety implications.
Authorities have confirmed that no other aircraft were on the runway at the time of the mistaken landing, preventing what could have been a catastrophic accident. However, the incident represents a significant breach of aviation safety protocols that has raised serious concerns among aviation regulators.
Initial reports suggest that the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 29L but the pilots mistakenly aligned with and landed on runway 29R instead. The exact cause of this navigation error is under thorough investigation, with authorities examining communication records, flight data, and pilot actions.
Safety Implications and Industry Concerns
This incident marks one of the most serious aviation safety breaches at Delhi Airport in recent years. Runway incursions and wrong runway landings are considered critical safety events by international aviation authorities because they can lead to catastrophic collisions.
The investigation will focus on multiple aspects including:
- Communication between air traffic control and the flight crew
- Weather conditions at the time of landing
- Pilot training and experience
- Airport signage and navigation aids
- Previous safety record of the airline
Aviation experts have emphasized that such incidents, while rare, highlight the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to issue new guidelines to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
All passengers and crew were safely disembarked following the incident, and the aircraft was later moved to its correct parking position. Airport operations continued normally after a brief security review, but the incident has left aviation authorities deeply concerned about potential safety gaps.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine whether this was an isolated human error or indicative of broader systemic issues that need to be addressed in Indian aviation safety protocols.
