Passengers flying on Airbus 320 from Mumbai to Goa had a very narrow escape at Dabolim in the wee hours of Tuesday. A group of six dogs were found loitering along the runway forcing the pilot to abort landing while descending at full throttle and take off for a turnaround. Hundreds of lives were put to risk. The aircraft was seconds away from a huge disaster. Luckily, a quick presence of mind by the pilot to alert the air traffic control and change averted a catastrophe which would have scarred Goa’s image further.
In Goa, we may have stray cattle and dogs occupying prime positions on roads and highways and sometimes engaging in leisurely strolls while motorist are on standby. Negotiating stray cattle and the countless potholes have been a constant challenge for motorists. But strays dogs moving about on the runway is just not acceptable, under any circumstances, in any part of the world.
Authorities cannot pass on the blame. The airport officials have admitted that there are instances of stray dogs barging on to the runway and the taxiway from nearby areas, but it only reflects utter callousness since it was overlooked in the first place. If INS Hansa has taken proactive measures and manned the runway during day hours, who is guarding it at night? How can the runway be unmanned when there are high chances of dogs encroaching in the darkness?
The blame has been conveniently shifted to the government citing a MoU between INS Hansa and the government with regards to sterilization and relocation of stray dogs. This doesn’t absolve the airport authorities of manning the runway. Government doesn’t come into the picture every time a stray dog makes its way down the runway. It appears that authorities have taken this very casually, despite knowing that the fence is porous.
In Goa, however, we learn our lessons the hard way, or sometimes we don’t learn them at all. This is not the first time Dabolim airport has been in the news for such stray nuisances. If we may recall, in December 2014, a Delhi-bound aircraft had to abort take-off after a bird-hit. The reason: A garbage heap lying in the funnel area attracted birds. Around 164 passengers had a narrow escape as tyres of the plane burst after the pilot applied emergency brakes. It was only after that the Airport Authority of India took cognizance of the heaps of garbage around the facility and asked the panchayat to clear it immediately. And this comes in the same year when the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar found the landing strip in a dangerous condition. There have been several other instances, from oil spills to tankers posing danger.
Authorities have been literally flirting with danger. Runways should be secured and insulated from stray instances. It not only endangers life, but makes Goa a mocking-point across the world. The laxity of authorities is showing. The director general of civil aviation should take serious note of this and fix responsibility.
