A communication breakdown between Kolkata's air traffic control and 85 airborne aircraft jeopardised lives of nearly 25,000 fliers
Highlights
- Vital communication link between Kolkata ATC, 85 airborne aircraft failed
- Communication breakdown possibly endangered lives of thousands of fliers
- State-run BSNL network failed leading to frequency link snapping: Sources
Around 85 aircraft flying over Kolkata lost contact with ground control for 10 chilling minutes on Thursday. The government has asked for a report on the incident that possibly endangered thousands of passengers.
A little after 7.30 am the screens at the Air Traffic Control or ATC that display the positions of aircraft reportedly went blank.
This reportedly shut the feed from aircraft tracking equipment. The controllers then turned to the "VHF" or Very High Frequency link to communicate with the aircraft but realized that was not working either.
Sources say the state-run BSNL network failed at the Kolkata airport, which led to a high frequency link with aircraft snapping. The lines, operated over internet protocol, are used to contact pilots and warn them about the distance between planes.
The communication breakdown almost stacked up a massive disaster for the ATC as the Kolkata region controls nearly half of India's continental airspace.
Frantic ATC officials then sent an SOS to their counterparts in Varanasi, Patna and Gaya and asked them to take over and guide aircraft movement.
Officials say the Kolkata ATC network was partially restored in 10 minutes.