DGCA begins probe into near miss at Mumbai airport

A Directorate General of Civil Aviation-appointed team to probe the near miss between an Air India aircraft and a chopper belonging to the President's entourage, on Tuesday began its investigation by visiting the international airport in Mumbai.

"We are visiting Mumbai airport and will also be meeting ATC officials on Tuesday as part of our probe," an official associated with the eight-member probe team said.

The high-level DGCA investigation team is being led by Joint Director General (Investigation) A K Chopra.

The team will probe Monday's incident involving a chopper from President Pratibha Patil's fleet that had landed on the same runway, which a Delhi-bound aircraft with 150 passengers on board was using to take off.

The team comprises four members, including Chopra from Delhi and four from Mumbai.

Chopra, who landed in Mumbai on Monday, had a meeting with DGCA officials who apprised him of the development, the official said.

Capt S K Kohli, the pilot of IC-866, an Airbus A-321 aircraft, had aborted take off and applied emergency brakes when he saw one of the three Air Force helicopters ferrying the President landing on the runway.