Air India's woman pilot saves 261 lives

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Air Indias woman pilot saves 261 lives

Mumbai - The two planes were closing in from opposite directions with 261 passengers on them.

By Web Report

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Published: Mon 12 Feb 2018, 9:49 AM

Last updated: Mon 12 Feb 2018, 11:55 AM

On February 7, a major air tragedy was averted after Vistara and Air India flights came dangerously close in Mumbai airspace. The two planes were closing in from opposite directions with 261 passengers on them after some confusion in Air Traffic Controller's coordination. At that time, the two cockpits were being manned by two women who are now being hailed for their timely action which saved the lives of the passengers and the crew onboard.
AI Airbus A-319 was flying from Mumbai to Bhopal as AI 631 and Vistara's A-320 Neo was flying from Delhi to Pune as UK 997.
"The planes were barely seconds away from each other. Vistara was descending from its assigned level of 29,000 feet to 27,100 feet where an AI flight was coming in the opposite direction. At that time, Vistara cockpit had a woman co-pilot at the controls as the captain had taken a toilet break, while, the AI flight had a woman commander Captain Anupama Kohli. There may have been confusion between the ATC and Vistara as to what altitude instruction is being given to which lady. This has to be seen," sources were quoted saying in The Times of India.
During the tense moments, AI's Captain Anupama Kohli, a senior commander of A-320 family with experience of over 20 years, heard the communication between ATC and the Vistara plane. "She saw the Vistara aircraft approaching in her direction and could hear the ATC asking Vistara pilot 'why are you on this level?' The Vistara lady pilot tells ATC that 'no, you told me to come to this level'.
Amidst all the confusion, the red warning signalling went up in her cockpit and she heard a resolution advisory (RA): 'climb, climb, climb' and Captain Kohli immediately climbed and turned right to steer clear of the Vistara plane," said sources.
Fortunately, both aircrafts safely flew 600 feet away from each other and averted mid-air collision. Captain Kohli has been praised for her presence of mind.
According to Vistara crew, they went down to be at 27,000 feet as the ATC had asked them to do so. The matter is being investigated.
 


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