Ian Petchenik

Indian authorities are probing a loss of separation incident that occurred on 8 June in Mumbai. Air India flight 657 was cleared to depart Mumbai’s Runway 27 while IndiGo flight 5053 was cleared to land at the same time. According to ADS-B data received from both aircraft, at their closest point the flights were 1,671 feet apart.

What the ADS-B data tells us

Flightradar24 received ADS-B data from both aircraft. The analysis and imagery below is based on the more granular data downloaded and processed after the incident was reported. For comparison, annotated data is based on position reports received with the same receiver time stamp.

Air India flight 657 began its take off roll at 00:45:05 UTC when the IndiGo A320neo was approximately 5,700 feet away. At 00:45:27 IndiGo entered the runway area as Air India accelerated through 90 knots ground speed.

We correlated ADS-B data with video of the incident  for touchdown and rotation points. The smallest recorded distance between the two aircraft was at 00:45:36 when they were laterally separated by 1,671 feet. Air India was still on the ground and this point, and IndiGo still airborne.

At 00:45:39, Air India began its rotation, while the aircraft were 1,679 feet apart. Three seconds later IndiGo touched down.

Aircraft information

Both flights were operated by Airbus A320-251N aircraft. Air India’s  was delivered new to the airline in March 2024. IndiGo took delivery of  in July 2021.