By IANS,
Panaji : A probe was ordered after a Moscow-bound Trans-Aero aircraft’s wing brushed against the tail of another plane at Goa’s Dabolim airport Sunday afternoon, airport officials said here. All 356 passengers on board were safe.
The incident occurred at 2.30 p.m., when the Moscow-bound flight was on the runway, readying for the take-off, the officials said.
The Trans-Aero flight’s right wing brushed against the tail wing of another chartered flight from Britain, the officials said.
The passengers were immediately evacuated, they said, adding all passengers on board the Trans-Aero flight were safe.
However, both flights were grounded on the runway, blocking the outgoing traffic.
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) initiated an enquiry into the freak mishap.
“The inquiry will try to determine if there was any lapse on part of the pilot or were there other factors involved that could have led to the incident,” Dabolim International Airport director Paul Manikam told IANS.
Airport officials said techniocians would inspect the two planes Monday and decide on their airworthiness.
They said a preliminary report on the mishap was sent to the DGCA in New Delhi and a detailed investigation would be carried out by a special team from Mumbai Monday.
Hundreds of chartered flights from Germany, Russia and Britain use the paramilitary airport facility at Dabolim every year from October to March, Goa’s tourist season. This year nearly 700 chartered and scheduled flights are expected to land in Goa.