An IndiGo aircraft recently suffered a tail strike during its landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The incident took place on Sunday, and thankfully, there were no reported injuries. The aircraft has been grounded following the incident.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revealed that an IndiGo A321-252NX (Neo) aircraft VT-IMG was involved in the tail strike while operating flight 6E-6183 from Kolkata to Delhi. The flight was uneventful until the approach to land in Delhi. During the landing on runway 27, the crew felt that they floated longer than expected and initiated a go-around. During the go-around maneuver, the bottom of the tail portion of the aircraft probably touched the runway, resulting in damages.
The crew has been temporarily off-rostered, and a probe has been ordered to investigate the matter. Tail strikes happen when the tail or empennage of an aircraft hits the ground or any other stationary object during take-off or landing. This is a critical safety concern for airlines and requires a thorough investigation.
The DGCA has stated that the safety of passengers and crew is their top priority. Therefore, they have ordered a detailed investigation into the incident to determine the root cause of the tail strike. The aviation authority is expected to provide an update on the matter in due course.
Tail strikes are not uncommon in the aviation industry, but it is essential to probe each incident thoroughly to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future. The reason behind this is because a small mistake can have a catastrophic impact in the aviation industry. Aircraft operators, regulators, and the aviation community as a whole must work together to ensure that such incidents are minimized.
In summary, the IndiGo flight suffered a tail strike while landing at the Delhi Airport, and an investigation has been ordered. The crew has been taken off duties as per safety standard. The aviation authority is expected to share additional updates regarding the incident in due course.