Stray Dog on Kolkata Airport Runway Forces Chennai-Bound IndiGo Flight to Divert to Andal

A major aviation disaster was averted at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata after a stray dog entered the runway, forcing an incoming IndiGo flight from Chennai to divert to Andal airport in West Burdwan district.

The incident unfolded when a Ranchi-bound IndiGo flight had taxied onto the runway and was preparing for take-off. Just moments before departure, the pilot spotted a stray dog roaming across the tarmac.

Recognising the immediate hazard to flight operations, the pilot promptly alerted Kolkata Air Traffic Control (ATC). At that exact moment, another IndiGo aircraft arriving from Chennai was on its final approach to land at the Kolkata airport.

Mid-Air Diversion and Safety Response

Upon receiving the pilot's warning about the animal on the active runway, ATC officials acted swiftly to prevent a collision. To eliminate any risk of an accident during touchdown, controllers denied landing clearance to the Chennai flight and instructed the crew to divert immediately to an alternative airport.

Following the ATC directive, the aircraft altered its course and landed safely at Andal airport in West Burdwan district, located roughly 187 kilometres away from Kolkata. Airport officials confirmed that the quick reflexes of the departing pilot and decisive coordination by the ATC saved the lives of numerous passengers on board.

Security Probe and Back-to-Back Airport Scares

While all passengers remained safe, the breach has triggered serious concerns regarding perimeter security at NSCBI Airport. The Kolkata Airport Authority has launched an investigation to determine how a stray animal managed to infiltrate the high-security runway zone undetected.

The runway intrusion came on the heels of another major security scare at the same airport on Wednesday morning, when a hijack threat was reported on an Air India flight. Police subsequently arrested a passenger hailing from Sodepur in North 24 Parganas district in connection with the hoax.

Investigations revealed that the passenger's employer was sending him to work in an African country against his wishes. Unwilling to travel abroad and leave his cancer-stricken wife behind, the man fabricated the hijack scare in a desperate attempt to cancel his foreign trip, ultimately landing himself in police custody.