A collision of two aircrafts was averted at the airport in Chennai after alert air traffic control officials stopped a cargo flight preparing to take off without clearance.

According to airport officials, a Bengaluru-bound Paramount Airways flight with 49 persons on board was taking off when the Dubai bound Etihaad cargo flight from an adjacent bay started moving towards the same runway on Thursday night.

Airport Apron Duty Manager S Yuganantam spotted the cargo flight moving towards the runway and immediately asked the pilot to stop it.

Officials said if the cargo flight was not stopped it would have resulted in a collision with the Paramount flight.

The Etihaad flight has been detained and officials are questioning its pilot, airport officials told PTI.