Air India and IndiGo Aircraft Narrowly Avoid Taxiway Collision
Two narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft operated by Air India and IndiGo narrowly avoided a potential collision on Wednesday evening at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad after an inbound flight inadvertently entered the wrong taxiway.
Key Highlights
- Air India flight AI2493 took an incorrect turn after landing from Mumbai on June 24, 2026.
- The blunder placed the aircraft face-to-face with Mumbai-bound IndiGo flight 6E 5160 on the same taxiway.
- Both planes came to a halt approximately 200 meters apart, ensuring no injuries to the 164 passengers or crew.
- Aviation regulatory authorities have launched a formal investigation into the operational lapse.
An Air India plane came in front of an IndiGo aircraft on the same taxiway at the Ahmedabad airport after the Air India plane took a wrong turn while taxiing towards the parking bay on Wednesday evening, according to sources.
IndiGo said both aircraft came to a halt at a safe distance from each other.
The Mumbai-bound IndiGo plane was preparing for take off when the Air India aircraft took the wrong turn, and both planes were separated by around 200 metres on the same taxiway, the sources said.
“We are aware of an incident where our flight AI 2493 operating from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on 24 June, after landing, inadvertently took a wrong turn during taxiing,” Air India said in a statement.
The airline also said there was no compromise on the safety of passengers and crew, and that the aircraft was subsequently towed back to the parking bay.
“The matter has been reported to the regulatory authorities and an investigation initiated,” the airline said.
Both planes were narrow-body A320s.
IndiGo said its flight 6E 5160, scheduled to operate from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, was briefly delayed while taxiing out for departure after an aircraft of another airline inadvertently took an incorrect turn and came in the way of our aircraft.
Historical Context and Safety Outlook
The ground navigation error at Ahmedabad airport occurred at 7:59 PM when Air India flight AI2493, an Airbus A320neo registered as VT-TQV carrying 164 passengers, landed from Mumbai. Air traffic control instructed the pilots to proceed to Stand 34L via taxiways C and G, but the crew deviated from the assigned path.
Ground safety protocols functioned as designed, and air traffic control immediately directed the departing IndiGo aircraft to hold its position. The Air India jet was safely towed away by 8:18 PM, causing a 20-minute departure delay for IndiGo flight 6E 5160 before it proceeded to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. The incident comes amid heightened global scrutiny regarding airport surface movements and taxiway incursions.
FAQs
What caused the face-to-face aircraft incident at Ahmedabad airport?
The incident occurred because Air India flight AI2493 mistakenly took an incorrect turn onto an unassigned taxiway while navigating toward its parking bay after landing.
How close did the Air India and IndiGo planes come to each other?
The two Airbus A320 aircraft stopped safely on the taxiway with a separation distance of approximately 200 meters between them.
Were any passengers or crew members injured during the taxiway mix-up?
No passengers or crew members were injured, and both airlines confirmed that standard safety protocols successfully mitigated any immediate risks.
Was the flight schedule at Ahmedabad airport significantly disrupted?
Disruption was minimal; the Air India aircraft was towed back to its parking bay within 19 minutes, resulting in a brief 20-minute departure delay for the IndiGo flight.
