IndiGo Aircraft Involved in Tail Strike During Go-Around in โฃMumbai
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Mumbai, India โ- A Directorate General of โCivil โคAviation (DGCA) investigation has been launched after anโ IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft experienced a tail strike whileโฃ attempting to โlandโค at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The incident occurred during a low-altitude go-around maneuver necessitated by unfavorable weather conditions.
Whatโ Happened?
Flight 6E 1060, arriving โฃfrom Bangkok, struck โitsโค tail on โคthe runway (Runway 27) at approximately 3:06 am โฃlocal time. The pilots initiated a go-around due to the challenging weather, and the tail โฃstrike happened during this process. Following the initial incident, the aircraftโข successfully completed another โฃapproach and โฃlanded safely.
According to IndiGo representatives, the aircraft will undergo thorough inspections โฃand necessary repairs before being cleared for future operations. “At IndiGo, the safety of our customers, crew,โ and aircraft is our top priority,” a spokesperson stated. “We are making all efforts to minimize any subsequentโค impact on our operations dueโ to this incident.”
Did you Know? A tail strike occurs when the โขtail sectionโค of an aircraft makes contact with the runway during takeoff orโข landing, potentially โcausing โstructural damage.
DGCA Investigation Underway
The DGCA has โคconfirmed it will conduct a formal investigation into the incident. A senior DGCA official stated, “We will be โคundertakingโค an investigation on this incident. A formal order โwill be issued.” Notably, โthe airline crewโ did not instantly report the incident to Air Traffic Control (ATC), a detail that will likely beโ scrutinized during the investigation.
The incidentโ occurred amidst heavy โฃrainfall โฃin Mumbai, โwhich caused disruptions toโ air traffic.โข โ At least fourteen flights were affected, โwith ten requiring go-arounds and three being diverted to option airports on Friday and Saturday. โ
Key Incident Details
| Airline | Flight Number | Aircraft โType | Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | 6E 1060 | Airbus A321 Neo | Mumbai Airport (Runway โค27) | August 16,2025 | 3:06 AM (Local Time) |
Safety Protocols and Go-Arounds
A go-around is a standard procedure in aviation when a landing cannot be safely completed. Pilots may initiate aโฃ go-around due to various factors, โincluding unstable approach, traffic onโ the runway, or adverse weather conditions. According to the FAA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical โKnowledge, proper execution of a go-around is crucial for maintaining flight safety [[1]].
Pro Tip: Understanding โthe reasons behindโ a go-around can help passengers feel more informed and reassured during flight.
No injuries toโค passengers or crew were reported as a result of the tail strike. The aircraft has been โคgrounded pending the outcome of the DGCA’s investigation and necessary repairs.
What factors โคdo you think contributed to this incident, and how can airlines further enhance safety protocols during challengingโข weather conditions?
Previous DGCAโ Actions Regarding IndiGo
This incident follows recent scrutiny of IndiGo by the DGCA. Reportsโ indicate the DGCA has previously addressed concernsโ regarding IndiGo’s pilot training programs.
Understanding Tail strikes: A Broader โขContext
Tailโค strikes, whileโฃ relatively rare, represent a important safety concern in โฃaviation.Theyโ can range from minorโ cosmetic damage to significant structural issues requiring extensive repairs. Factorsโ contributing to tail strikes include improperโข landing techniques, exceeding landing weight limits,โ and unfavorableโค wind conditions. Airlines and regulatory bodies continually โworkโ to improve pilot training and operational procedures to mitigate the riskโ of these incidents. The โincreasingโฃ frequency of extreme weather events globally also presents new challenges to flight safety, requiring ongoing adaptation andโค innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions About IndiGo Tail Strike
- What is a tail strike? A tail strike โขoccurs when the tail of an aircraft hitsโฃ theโข runway during takeoff or landing.
- Is a tail strike โperilous? โ While not alwaysโ immediatly catastrophic, โa tail โคstrike can cause structural damage and requires thoroughโฃ inspection.
- What caused the IndiGo โtail strike? โ Preliminary โreports indicate unfavorable weather conditions were a contributing โfactor.
- What is the DGCA doing about the incident? The DGCA โhas launched aโ full investigation to determine the โcause and prevent futureโ occurrences.
- Willโ thisโฃ affect future IndiGo โคflights? The affected aircraft isโฃ grounded โขfor โขinspection and repairs, potentially causing some schedule disruptions.
weโค will continue to update this story โas more facts becomes available. If you have any insights orโข information regarding this incident, please share them in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest breaking news andโข in-depth analysis.
