Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight Lands on Wrong Runway at Delhi Airport

In a major aviation scare at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), an Ariana Afghan Airlines flight from Kabul mistakenly landed on a runway meant only for departures on Sunday afternoon.

Flight FG 311, an Airbus A310, was cleared to land on runway 29L. However, it touched down on runway 29R at around 12:06 pm on November 23. Runway 29R is typically reserved for departing flights, while 29L is used for incoming flights.

Air traffic officials described the incident as a “miraculous escape,” as another aircraft was scheduled to take off from runway 29R at the same time. Fortunately, no aircraft was on the runway when FG 311 landed, preventing what could have been a catastrophic runway incursion.

Aviation authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident. They are also preparing to formally raise the matter with Afghan aviation authorities to ensure all safety protocols are reviewed and reinforced.

This incident adds to a series of near-miss events at Delhi airport in recent months:

• August: A Vistara aircraft reportedly came within seconds of a potential collision during taxiing due to miscommunication between pilots and air traffic control.

• Earlier this year: An IndiGo and an Air India flight came dangerously close on a converging taxiway, prompting safety advisories from aviation regulators.

• Last month: Two aircraft were cleared to use intersecting runways within a short time interval, triggering calls for improved coordination among air traffic controllers.

Authorities have emphasized the importance of strict adherence to runway protocols and improved communication between pilots and air traffic control to avoid such dangerous situations in the future.

Passengers aboard FG 311 were reportedly unharmed, and the flight continued safely to its terminal. Aviation experts are highlighting this incident as a critical reminder of the high stakes involved in runway management at busy international airports like Delhi IGIA.