A serious runway incursion incident at Goa's Dabolim Airport on April 3, 2026, involving an Air India Express Boeing 737-800, was primarily caused by crew misinterpretation of air traffic control (ATC) instructions and a failure to adhere to taxi guidance. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its final report, identifying these critical operational lapses.
The incident occurred when Air India Express flight AXB-1109, bound for Delhi, entered an active runway without explicit clearance, despite an Indian Navy fighter aircraft being in the process of taking off. The AAIB's investigation highlighted several factors contributing to the near-miss.
Misinterpretation of ATC Instructions
According to the AAIB report, the pilot flying (PF) on board AXB-1109 mistakenly understood the ground controller's instruction, "expect backtrack," as permission to enter and proceed onto the runway. This crucial misinterpretation led the crew to advance without seeking the required explicit clearance from ATC, resulting in the unauthorized entry.
Initially, the aircraft had received clearance for startup and pushback for Runway 26. However, a last-minute change shifted the active runway to 08, and the crew was subsequently informed to "expect backtrack." The ground controller then instructed the aircraft to taxi via taxiway N2 and hold at the Runway 08 holding point. The investigation revealed that while the crew acknowledged the taxi instruction, they overlooked the critical instruction to hold.
Failure to Establish Communication with Navy ATC
The second primary cause identified by the AAIB was the crew's failure to follow the instruction to hold at the designated point and establish communication with Navy Approach on 119.7 MHz before entering the active runway. The aircraft continued its taxi without initiating two-way communication on the specified frequency.
Simultaneously, an Indian Navy fighter had received take-off clearance and commenced its roll on Runway 08. The Navy tower controller quickly spotted the unauthorized entry and alerted the departing fighter, describing the civil aircraft as "unidentified aircraft on the runway." The fighter pilot's prompt response, expediting the take-off, was crucial in preventing a potential collision. The fighter lifted off approximately 2,000 meters from the runway's start, with an estimated 900-1,000 meters separating it from the Air India Express aircraft.
Contributory Factors and Recommendations
The investigation also pointed to several contributory factors, including the trainee first officer's distraction with pre-take-off calculations following the runway change and inadequate monitoring of radio communications. The controller's failure to insist on a complete readback of instructions was also noted.
In response to its findings, the AAIB has issued several recommendations:
- Counselling for the AXB-1109 crew and additional safety training for the pilot-in-command.
- Air India Express to issue a circular sensitizing all crew members to the identified lapses.
- For the Airports Authority of India, a recommendation to reinforce standard radio phraseology among air traffic controllers and review expressions like "expect backtrack" that could lead to misinterpretation.
- The DGCA is urged to establish a formal coordination framework with the AAIB and defense authorities to enhance information-sharing and cooperation in aviation safety investigations.
The Air India Express aircraft eventually received clearance and departed safely for Delhi, with no injuries or damage reported.