IA plane,Prez Patil’s chopper avoid collision

Pilot of IC-866 had to abort take-off after spotting an Army helicopter,a part of the convoy of President Patil,on the runway in Mumbai.

The pilot of a Delhi-bound Indian Airlines flight IC-866,with about 150 passengers on board,had to abort take-off after spotting an Army helicopter on the runway in Mumbai on early Monday morning.

The helicopter,one of three on duty for Indian President Pratibha Patil during her visit to Mumbai,was on the same runway as the passenger flight,forcing the aircraft’s pilot to abort take-off,a spokesman for the airport said.

A probe into the incident has been ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

According to sources with the airline,the pilot had already received permission from the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) to take off.

Airport and ATC officials were not available for comment.

However,according to a senior airline official,it was a goof-up on part of the ATC officials and it will be fully investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

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