Aviation disaster averted at Mumbai airport

A major disaster was averted at the Mumbai airport when passengers escaped unhurt after two aircraft of different private airlines were involved in an accident in the wee hours on Saturday, the aviation and police sources said.

The accident occurred around 0210 hours when a wing of a Jet Airways aircraft brushed against the tail of a Kingfisher plane, an initial report said.

The Jet Airways (Mumbai-Muscat 9W 540) aircraft with passengers on board had just started rolling on the bay when it hit the parked Kingfisher airplane, though lights were sufficient at the tarmac, police and aviation officials said.

Both the aircraft have been grounded and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials are investigating the incident.