Collision: SpiceJet, GoAir planes have ‘near miss’ over Goa

Mangalore Today/ PTI

Goa, Oct 23:  SpiceJet and GoAir planes were involved in a “near miss” in the Goa airspace after the latter allegedly changed its flight course, prompting the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) in the planes to go off.

SpiceJet officials said the incident took place on Saturday when their Goa-Hyderabad flight SG 3604 was “in the climb” on the designated flight path assigned by the air traffic controllers.

“As the instrument landing system at Goa airport was not available on Saturday, flights were being guided by the ATC. A notice to airmen had been issued in advance that the system will not be available,” said a SpiceJet official.

“The GoAir flight, which should have been in the north-west airspace, entered the north-east airspace where Spicejet Q400 aircraft VT-SUD was present, prompting TCAS alert,” the official added. “Our crew took evasive action as directed and reported to Goa ATC.”

GoAir did not offer comments for this story.

In the Indian airspace, “Reduced Vertical Separation Minima” operations are permitted by the regulator, which allows aircrafts to fly with a minimum vertical separation of 1,000 feet. A breach in this separation prompts the TCAS to go off.

The TCAS is an onboard equipment that advises pilots about traffic in the proximity of the aircraft and also instructs pilots on avoidance action to maintain desired separation between aircrafts.