New Delhi: On June 11, an IndiGo aircraft experienced a tail strike during its arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. As a result, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation safety regulator in India, has ordered an investigation into the incident. The airline has also grounded the operating crew in compliance with the DGCA's directive.
According to a senior DGCA official, the flight proceeded without any issues until the approach to land at Delhi. However, during the approach on runway 27, the crew felt that the aircraft floated longer than usual and decided to initiate a go-around. During the go-around maneuver, the bottom of the tail section of the aircraft made contact with the runway surface, resulting in damage. The operating crew has been taken off duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
IndiGo released a statement acknowledging that their flight 6E-6183, traveling from Kolkata to Delhi, experienced a tail strike during landing in Delhi. However, they did not disclose the number of passengers on board the aircraft at the time of the incident. The aircraft was grounded at Delhi for necessary assessment and repairs. IndiGo stated that relevant authorities are currently investigating the incident.
The DGCA confirmed the grounding of the aircraft, registered as VT-IMG, after it suffered a tail strike during landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 11. The regulatory body provided additional details, stating that the aircraft involved was an IndiGo A321-252NX (Neo) with the flight number 6E-6183. The incident occurred during the approach to land at Delhi, and it is believed that the bottom of the tail portion of the aircraft touched the runway surface, causing damage. The operating crew has been relieved from duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
In a separate incident on May 25, a Dubai-bound IndiGo aircraft experienced a bird strike while moving on the runway of Mangaluru International Airport. This led to the cancellation of the take-off, and all passengers were deplaned. The aircraft was subsequently declared "aircraft on ground" (AOG) to undergo a thorough engineering inspection.
Both incidents highlight the importance of safety measures and the need for investigations to determine the cause of such incidents. The DGCA and other relevant authorities will conduct thorough examinations to ascertain the circumstances surrounding these events and take appropriate measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
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