Major plane accident averted in Chennai, India

Over 300 passengers escaped a major air accident here Saturday when a flight cleared for take-off stood on the runway and another plane that was about to land was asked to circle overhead instead.

"A Delhi-bound Jet Airways plane was on the runway when a Air India plane from Delhi was to land. On noticing the Jet Airways plane still on the runway, the Air India plane was asked to circle overhead," Chennai Airport director E.P. Hareendranathan told IANS.

When asked about the presence of an Indigo plane on the runway at the same time, as reported, Hareendranathan said: "The Indigo Airline plane was cleared from the runway. Only the Jet Airways plane was on the runway when the Air India flight was coming in."

When the Air Traffic Control (ATC) was alerted about the Jet Airways plane still on the runway, the pilot of the Air India plane was asked to circle overhead.

According to him, there are standard procedures to be followed during circumstances like this and they were followed. Situations like these are quite common in busy airports, he added.

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