Mumbai-Hisar Medical Flight Carrying Coffin Landed On Wrong Runway In July, Confusing Markings Suspected In AAIB Preliminary Report
A non-scheduled air medical transport flight carrying a coffin from Mumbai landed on an abandoned runway strip at Hisar Airport earlier in July, possibly due to confusing markings, according to a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
The Beechcraft King Air C-90A twin-engine turboprop (VT-SLK), operated by Mumbai-based Flaps Aviation, departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on July 14 with two flight crew, two passengers and a casket. During visual alignment for the final non-precision approach, the crew lined up on an abandoned paved runway structure in line with the operational approach path. The aircraft touched down 602 metres past the start of the abandoned pavement and rolled 509.8 metres, striking approach lights and a far-field monitoring antenna.
None of the four occupants were injured and no post-impact fire occurred, but maintenance engineers found significant structural damage to the engines, propellers, fuselage, wings and landing gear.
The AAIB said misleading visual cues were a primary factor. Old runway markings had been painted over with black paint but remained legible, and the closed-runway "X" marking sat 315 metres from the start of the abandoned pavement, leaving an unmarked stretch visible during descent.
The AAIB has issued interim recommendations directing the Airports Authority of India to obliterate remaining markings, place closed-runway markings at each end of the abandoned pavement, and publish a caution notice on Hisar approach charts.
