Eighty-five planes flying over Kolkata remained out of contact with ATC for ten minutes
The government has asked for a report on the incident.
According to reports, a little after 7.30 am the screens at the Air Traffic Control or ATC that display the positions of aircraft reportedly went blank.
This reportedly shut the feed from aircraft tracking equipment. The controllers then turned to the "VHF" or Very High Frequency link to communicate with the aircraft but realized that was not working either.
Reports said the state-run BSNL network failed at the Kolkata airport, which led to a high frequency link with aircraft snapping. The lines, operated over internet protocol, are used to contact pilots and warn them about the distance between planes.
Kolkata region controls nearly half of India's continental airspace.
Frantic ATC officials then sent an SOS to their counterparts in Varanasi, Patna and Gaya and asked them to take over and guide aircraft movement.
Officials say the Kolkata ATC network was partially restored in 10 minutes.
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