DGCA suspends two SpiceJet pilots’ licences for runway incursion at Delhi airport

NEW DELHI: The licences of two SpiceJet pilots was on Thursday suspended for three months each for entering the runway without clearance while operating a flight at Delhi airport this August. While air traffic control (ATC) had asked them to stop at holding point of a runway, they crossed the same leading to the incursion.
The incident had occurred on August 27, 2019, when the captain and co-pilot were operating a Boeing 737 (VT-SYF) as SG-8723 from Delhi to Mumbai.
The order into this issued by joint DG, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), B S Rai on Thursday says: “..investigation has revealed (ATC) gave taxi instruction to SG-8723 to ‘hold at holding point of runway 10’ and crew of SpiceJet confirmed that aircraft is holding at (that) point. However, it crossed holding point which led to runway incursion.”
The regulator had issued a show cause notice to both the pilots for “endangering safety of aircraft and passengers on board.”