Haj flight rescheduled after oil spillage on runway

Haj flight rescheduled after oil spillage on runway
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, OCT 24
The maiden direct flight to holy place of Haj from Dabolim airport to Madina, Saudi Arabia, scheduled on Monday evening, has been resheduled, as portion of the runway has been damaged, after a fuel tanker met with an self-accident on the runway on Saturday night.
Airport Director D Paul Manickam informed that the runway of Dabolim airport has been reportedly damaged due to the accident that occurred on the runway.
Navy immediately initiated repair work of the damaged portion of the runway and it is likely that the work will go on for another three days.
“Since only partial length of 6,900 ft of the runway is made available for aircraft operation, a direct jumbo jet charter flight, Alwafeer Airline Boeing B747-400, to Haj which was scheduled to leave from Goa on October 25 at 7 pm cannot operate till the restoration of the runway,” informed Manickam.
About 282 Hajis were supposed to embark for Haj from Dabolim airport to Madina, Saudi Arabia, on the first direct charter flight on Monday at 7 pm.
Highly placed sources in the airport informed that the Navy has issued NOTAM (Notice to Air men) to halt aircraft operation, as full length 11,500 ft runway in not available, due to which jumbo jet aircrafts could not operate in the available portion of 6,900 ft runway.
Sources further informed that if the repair work is extended for more than three days, then there are possibilities that the charter flights which are scheduled this weekend would be affected, as most of the charter flights are jumbo jet aircrafts.
“Only local domestics’ airlines can operate in an available portion of 6,900 ft runway and that too with some restrictions,” added sources.
Meanwhile, Goa State Haj Committee (GSHC) on Sunday evening after an emergency meeting decided that Hajis would be informed by Tuesday on the flight details.