An IndiGo flight from Guwahati to Bengaluru suffered a tail strike during landing amid gusty weather. The aircraft is grounded for inspection, and the DGCA has opened a probe. Passengers were safe, and operations remained unaffected.
IndiGo flight 6E 6542 experienced a tail strike while attempting a second landing at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. The airline attributed the incident to gusty weather conditions, confirming that all passengers and crew disembarked safely. Following the event, the aircraft was grounded for necessary maintenance and structural assessments.
Operational Impact
The grounding of the aircraft requires the airline to conduct detailed engineering checks on the fuselage and control surfaces, as is standard practice for such incidents. While IndiGo successfully replaced the grounded plane with another aircraft to continue the flight schedule to Coimbatore, the damaged unit will remain out of service until safety clearances are obtained. For a large fleet operator like IndiGo, which manages over 400 aircraft, the temporary loss of one plane is manageable but requires dedicated maintenance resources.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a formal investigation into the landing attempt. Investigators are reviewing telemetry data and pilot communications to establish why the tail made contact with the runway. Aviation regulators perform rigorous oversight in such cases to ensure that safety protocols are strictly followed. These probes are standard in the aviation sector when abnormal runway contacts occur. Stakeholders often track the findings of such investigations, as they can influence operational safety procedures and future maintenance planning.
The next step involves the conclusion of the technical inspection and the DGCA's review of the safety report. The timeline for the aircraft's return to service depends on the extent of structural repairs required and final regulatory approval.