Chaos at Jammu airport as flights cancelled for safety reasons
Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 23
The Airports Authority of India today suspended air traffic at the Jammu Airport for safety reasons.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded and several inbound flights were diverted to Srinagar and Delhi.
Though most of the private airlines, which operate bigger aircraft, remained grounded, Air India flights operated normally.
Sources said the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and private airlines were at loggerheads after the safety regulator expressed concern over operation of big aircraft at the Jammu Airport.
A senior engineer at the airport said the failure to comply with the Director General of Civil Aviation order had led to the problem.
Private airlines such as GoAir, Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet operate from Jammu.
Meanwhile, technical teams are assessing the runway as pilots have been complaining about some difficulties during landing.
There was chaos at the airport as people got to know about the suspension of air traffic at the last moment.
Even former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was scheduled to address a National Conference workers’ convention in the temple city, had to cancel his programme as his flight from the Valley got suspended.
“The Jammu Airport is a dangerous place to operate as the runway is short. It should have been longer to allow large aircraft to operate. Pilots are forced to apply frequent brakes to slowdown the aircraft which could lead to disaster anytime,” said a senior airport engineer.
However, Station Director VK Gautam said private airlines had cancelled their operation due to some technical reasons. He did not elaborate further.
The Jammu Airport is under the Indian Air Force and is surrounded by residential colonies.
A few days ago, the authorities had issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen), which bars operation of big aircraft.
