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However, India's air traffic control relied on outdated radar technology that couldn't effectively communicate critical data about altitude or aircraft identification. This meant that the controller, VK Dota, had to rely on pilots’ reports for altitude verification, a precarious system that left room for catastrophic error.
The Fatal Coordination Breakdown
As the flights continued on their paths, the Saudi 747 began its ascent after takeoff while the Kazakh jet descended. The controllers attempted to manage the airspace, instructing the Kazakh plane to maintain an altitude of 15,000 feet relative to the Saudi aircraft climbing to 14,000 feet—strategically designed to keep them separated by 1,000 feet.