An Ethiopian Airlines cargo Boeing forced landing at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi instead of Ahmedabad, India, which was its target destination. Such a thing that happened ‘earlier’ on that particular day has already caused concern and raised queries on the security measures and discretion of the pilots who crewed that specific flight.
The Details of Such Flight and The Preparations towards Landing
A cargo aircraft, ET 3644 of Ethiopian Airlines, was on the route containing Etimod and India, where one end is located in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. It was betrothed to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. However, nothing moved in that direction. One of the aviation sources could say that the plane initially approached to land in Ahmedabad at about 4.15 a.m. (local time). The aircraft was coming into land when it was very near the runway, only to pull up again into the air and abort the landing.
The decision to Go-Around and Diversion to Karachi
The inability to land safely induced the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to order the pilot to go for a “go around.” The pilot obeyed the instructions and rose to a height of 1500 feet, preparing for another landing. However, the flight crew did not perform the critical manoeuvre required for landing at Ahmedabad. Instead, they diverted the flight towards Karachi, Pakistan. They likely made this decision due to factors such as the safety of crew members, cargo, and the amount of fuel onboard. At four thirty-one AM local time, a little over one hour after the failed landing in Ahmedabad, the aircraft touched down safely at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.
Crew Rest and Continued Journey
Upon arrival in Karachi, the crew was on unscheduled rest during the stipulated downtime per the ORS regulations. This rest period is vital in preparing the crew for the next flight, especially after the traumatic experience of a mishandled landing approach and diversion. After the rest period, the cargo plane was topped up and ready to fly to Ahmedabad again. At a later time, however, the plane took off and landed in Ahmedabad again, thus completing its flight with no further incidents.
The event at Ahmedabad and the diversion that followed it to Karachi emphasize the need for safety and swift action in aviation. Although the circumstances were somewhat alarming, the pilot’s response safeguarded the aircraft, crew, and cargo. This event also highlights the role of air traffic controllers in alleviating the challenges faced by pilots in the air.
