Govt probes near miss incident involving IndiGo, KLM planes

Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered a detailed probe into the "serious incident" of IndiGo and KLM aircraft getting involved in a near miss situation last month.
After concluding that the incident was "serious", Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a probe.
A two-member inquiry committee, headed by AAIB Assistant Director Jitendra Loura, is looking into the matter. AAIB Air Safety Officer K Ramachandran is also part of the panel.
Depending on the requirement, the committee can take the assistance of other experts or agencies.
In a recent notification, the Ministry said "IndiGo aircraft A320 (Reg-VT-IFO) and KLM Airways Boeing B789 (Reg PHBHG) were involved in a serious incident in the Delhi airspace on November 2.

"... It appears to the central government that it is expedient to investigate and determine the causes and contributory factors leading to the said serious incident and make recommendations to avoid recurrence of such serious incidents in future," the notification said.

Citing preliminary data from the Indian authories, French aviation regulator BEA, last month, said IndiGo aircraft came in close proximity with KLM plane as the required standard lateral and vertical (radar) separation was reduced. The vertical separation was reduced to 200 feet, it had said.
Near miss incidents are generally described as airprox (aircraft proximity). It refers to a situation where in the opinion of a pilot or Air Traffic Services personnel, the distance between the planes as well as their relative positions and speed have been such that the safety of the aircraft involved may have been compromised.

Separately, another two-member panel is investigating the incident involving A R Airways Ltd. Cessna Citation CE 550 SII aircraft VT-KMB at Banswara airport, Rajasthan on October 27.
Specific details about the incident could not be immediately ascertained.
The incident would be probed by the committee comprising AAIB Assistant Director Jasbir Singh Larhga and Ramachandran.