AAIB flags gaps in DGCA-Defence coordination, seeks formal info-sharing after runway incursion

Two key aviation safety investigators say there is a need for formal information-sharing between civil aviation authorities and defence establishments after a runway incursion at Dabolim International Airport in South Goa.

The AAIB’s final investigation report centers on Air India Express flight AX-1109, a Boeing 737-800, which entered the runway while a Navy fighter aircraft was taking off on April 3. The incident occurred at a civil enclave airport operated by the Airports Authority of India, INS Hansa’s airbase.

The report identifies the root difficulty as a lack of a formal mechanism to obtain data and evidence directly from the Navy unit, INS HANSA, which hindered timely access during the investigation. It notes that this delay contributed to the loss of certain crucial evidence due to its later erasure.

Among the recommendations, the AAIB calls for one-time checks of training records for fixed-wing pilots and for the Navy to install and ensure the use of stop bars at Dabolim. It also urges formal coordination between civil aviation authorities and defence entities, including the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Army, and Indian Coast Guard, to facilitate information sharing for investigations.

The report highlights that earlier recommendations on unclassified information exchange and a formal collaboration framework between DGCA/AAIB and defence authorities have not been implemented, urging priority action. It references prior probes, including a 2021 Madhya Pradesh aviation incident and a 2024 defence helicopter incident, to support the case for formal cooperation.