Say That Fast Three Times... And Then Go Around

It could have been a very real emergency, with a very disastrous outcome: an aircraft attempting an emergency landing Friday in Solapur, India had to circle the runway -- twice -- to wave off as many as 500 spectators and athletes gathered on the field for a game of cricket.

According to the Indian Express News Service, the Air Deccan aircraft was carrying seven employees of the Trans Ocean Oil company from Mumbai to Ramadari. An engine problem forced the crew to head to Solapur to make a precautionary landing -- but as the plane got closer to the field, they saw that the airport's grounds and runway were being used.

"...Solapur airport’s open ground and landing strip are regularly encroached upon by people for playing games like cricket and football," said the Indian Express. "Some even answer nature’s call there."

The pilots probably couldn't see if that was the case, but they did overfly the runway --twice -- to scatter the crowds and convince any others, um, answering nature's call that the airplane really, REALLY had to go there, instead.

"This was the first time I had to save people on the strip during landing," pilot Thomas Lynn told the Indian Express. "I flew over the top of the strip twice to give the people a warning. In the third approach, I landed the aircraft, but to save the hundreds of people on the runway I put on the emergency brakes. The craft began skidding at full speed and it stopped when both the rear tires burst."

"More than two dozen people could have been run over," he added.

The incident ended well, with no injuries on the ground or in the aircraft -- something that could be attributed, according to maintenance worker Vijaykuma Phutane, on recent upgrades at the airport.

"The people were saved as the runway had been widened," said Phutane.

Of course, the cricket players tell a different tale.

"I was playing cricket with my friends as usual on the strip. We heard the plane, but didn't care, as no plane lands here daily. But suddenly I saw a plane rushing towards us and we began running to save our lives," said nearby resident Bhima Koli.

The Solapur airport is surrounded by hundreds of illegal slums which have blossomed within the past 20 years. According to news reports, the airport itself is inadequately staffed, and lacks even a telephone.

FMI: www.airdeccan.net, Learn All About Cricket!