Gaya: The Gaya airport was reopened and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) services reactivated late on Wednesday night to allow an air ambulance to operate.
According to the officials, airport director and ATC in-charge Awadhesh Kumar received a request from the Bihta Air Force Station seeking urgent operational clearance for transporting a patient to Delhi.
The airport’s ATC tower normally closes after 5.30 pm. Officials said the request was initially declined due to operational limitations but was later approved considering the medical emergency.
Staff recalled for emergency operation
The airport director said airport technicians and the officials who had already left after duty hours were called back to resume operations and activate ATC services.
At around 10 pm, an Indian Air Force air ambulance arrived from Lucknow and transported Selvan, a soldier posted at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), to Delhi for advanced treatment.
Officials said the soldier was suffering from liver failure.
The airport director said an official from the OTA military hospital had also contacted airport authorities regarding the emergency transfer.
Night landing facility aided operation
Airport officials said the availability of night landing facilities at Gaya Airport helped ensure the operation to be carried out without delay.
Staff members and officers returned from their residential quarters to assist with the arrangements, officials added.
Similar incident reported last month
This is the second instance in recent weeks in which airport personnel facilitated emergency assistance at Gaya Airport.
Last month, an IndiGo pilot reportedly returned a Delhi-bound aircraft from the runway to the parking bay after a passenger received news of his father’s death shortly before take-off and decided not to travel.
