SpiceJet flight takes off from Rajkot without ATC clearance; DGCA orders probe

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New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe after a SpiceJet passenger flight took off from Gujarat’s Rajkot without the mandatory clearance from the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) on December 30.

According to the information, the Rajkot-Delhi flight took off at around 9.30 am on December 30 and landed at the Delhi airport at 11.15 am, the officials said.

However, as per the norms, it is mandatory for an aircraft to take multiple permissions from ATC before taking off from an airport.

“It is mandatory for airlines to take permission to push back from the aircraft stand. Then, it has to take permission before starting the engines. Then, it has to take permission to stand in the lineup, and then a final permission is given for take-off,” officials said adding that the pilots of SpiceJet did not take requisite clearance from the ATC before taking off from the Rajkot airport on December 30, the officials noted.

The DGCA is probing the incident to find out the reasons, officials said.