IndiGo flight suffers tail strike at Mumbai airport
IndiGo flight in Mumbai suffers tail strike while aborting landing in rain
Advt
Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox.
Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more.
An IndiGo flight coming from Bangkok suffered a tail strike while landing at Mumbai airport on Saturday amid heavy rain. Before touching down, the plane descended below 550 feet before the pilots decided to abort landing. The tail strike occurred during the go-around. This is IndiGo's seventh tail strike in about two years on its A321 fleet, an issue the DGCA has raised.An IndiGo Airbus suffered a tail strike during landing in Mumbai Saturday morning amid heavy rain. The aircraft was flying from Bangkok.Before touching down, at around 3 AM, Airbus A321 descended below 550 feet before the pilots decided to abort the landing and attempt a second approach. The tail strike occurred during the go-around. The plane landed safely in the second attempt.This is IndiGo's seventh tail strike in two years on its A321 fleet, an issue the DGCA has raised with the airline.An IndiGo spokesperson said: "On August 16, 2025, an IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft tail touched the runway while executing a low-altitude go-around due to unfavourable weather conditions in Mumbai. Thereafter, the aircraft carried out another approach and landed safely. Following the standard protocol, the aircraft will go through necessary checks/repairs and regulatory clearance before resuming operations."In July 2023, DGCA had penalised IndiGo ₹30 lakh for four tail strikes within six months. It found "systemic deficiencies pertaining to operations, training procedures and engineering procedures".As per aviation website Skybrary: "A tail strike occurs when the aft fuselage (tail) of an aeroplane comes in contact with runway during take-off or landing. Statistically, the majority of tail strikes occur on landing. Tail strikes most often occur as a result of human error although environmental factors, such as strong gusty winds, can increase the potential for an event."Sources indicated IndiGo did not inform Mumbai ATC about the tail strike. "A tail strike could take out runway centre line lights or leave foreign objects on the runway. Airlines inform ATC about a tail strike because a runway inspection should be carried out after such an incident to ensure the safety of all aircraft operating from that runway," said an aviation source.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Lining up for take-off: Resumption of direct flights imminent, Indian and Chinese airlines prepare to reclaim market lost in 2020
With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to New Delhi, India and China appear to be one step closer to resuming direct flight connectivity between the two most populous countries in the world. With the exception of the Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong, India and China have had no direct flights since early 2020, just before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. 'Both sides agreed to resume direct flight connectivity between Chinese mainland and India at the earliest, and finalize an updated Air Services Agreement. They also agreed on the facilitation of visas to tourists, businesses, media and other visitors in both directions,' India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a release late Tuesday. Although the two countries have not given a timeline yet on resumption of direct services, the evident signs of a thaw in the India-China relationship—notably at a time when New Delhi's relationship with Washington has hit a few roadblocks—has built the hope that normalisation of air connectivity between India and China is imminent. Direct flight connectivity between India and China was initially suspended due to the pandemic, which had brought much of the international flight operations to a grinding halt globally. As the India-China bilateral relationship soured following the standoff in Eastern Ladakh in 2020 and remained frigid over the subsequent years, direct flights between the two nations did not resume despite air connectivity returning to pre-pandemic levels globally. Resumption of direct flights and normalisation of visa issuances—demands China has been making over the past couple of years—had come up in Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's discussions with Beijing during his China visit in January. At the time, the two countries had agreed 'in principle' to resume direct flights. In the preceding months, the matter featured in talks between foreign and aviation ministers of the two countries. Chinese and Indian airlines have been keenly watching the developments, and are now preparing for direct flights. Just last week, IndiGo's Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers had said that the carrier stands ready to resume direct flights to China as soon as the bilateral arrangements between the two countries allow. Chinese carriers, too, are eager to resume direct services, it is learnt. Lack of direct flights have led to high airfares and long travel times for those flying between India and China. According to industry insiders, airlines—Chinese as well as Indian—have been looking to restart direct flights, as there is high demand for travel between the two countries. Lack of direct air connectivity between India and mainland China, along with stringent visa restrictions, led to airlines from both countries losing out on potential passenger loads, and airlines operating from other Southeast Asian countries cashing in on the opportunity. Passenger traffic between India and China—currently solely through connecting hubs in South and Southeast Asia—is less than half of what it was in 2019. All of it is being catered to by airlines from regions like Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. To be sure, the Hong Kong airport is not exactly considered a Chinese airport due to Hong Kong's special autonomous status and a different visa regime than mainland China. It continues to be the leading connecting hub between India and mainland China. The normalisation of air connectivity between India and China would likely be beneficial for airlines from both countries. However, Beijing appears to believe that Chinese carriers stand to gain more, as they held the dominant share of the direct flight market before the pandemic. This perception likely explains why China has been encouraging India to permit the re-establishment of direct air connectivity and normalise visa issuances for Chinese nationals. Prior to the pandemic, specifically in December 2019, there were 539 scheduled direct flights per month between the two nations, offering a cumulative seat capacity of over 1.25 lakh. Of these, Indian carriers—IndiGo and Air India—accounted for 168 flights, or approximately 31 per cent. The remaining nearly 70 per cent of flights were operated by Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Shandong Airlines. Despite this historical dominance, aviation industry observers do not necessarily anticipate that Chinese carriers will maintain such a significant share once direct flight connectivity is re-established. A lot has changed within the Indian aviation sector since 2019. Air India, now privatised and well-capitalised, has ambitions for rapid growth, particularly in the international market. Similarly, IndiGo, India's leading domestic carrier, is now more focused on expanding its international network.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
India-China direct flights to resume, likely with airlines of both sides simultaneously
Representative image NEW DELHI: For the first time post Covid, direct flights will finally resume between India and China very soon. Sources say while Chinese carriers can resume flights 'from tomorrow', Indian carriers need to do so some work before doing so. So India proposes to resume flights when airlines of both sides are able to do so, which should not take 'too much time' and could happen within a month or so. 'The air service agreement (ASA or bilaterals) between India and China has to be revised. There can be a dialogue on that. But the issue is do we wait for the ASA to be revised or resume flights under the existing bilaterals. The latter seems more likely,' said sources. An announcement to the effect is likely to be made when PM Modi visits Tianjin later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. 'Chinese carriers can start flights as soon as a decision is made. Indian carriers, IndiGo and Air India , have some operational issues like their pre-Covid slots at Chinese airports that have been given away to other carriers. Our airlines will take some time and we are of the view flights should resume when carriers of both sides are able to resume operations. That should not take very long and can happen in a month or so,' said sources. Indian carriers, on their part, are waiting for government policy on China flights. 'We have been sounded out that flights will resume and are awaiting the framework for that, whether it happens under the revised or existing bilaterals. We haven't flown to China since early 2020, so over 5.5 years now. We will need to do safety risk assessment and re-qualification of pilots for the same based on the limitations of the airport we used to operate to in China. We will have to reapply for all permissions and validations,' said senior officials of Indian carriers. In 2019, India and China had 539 direct flights operated by airlines including Air India, IndiGo, China Southern and China Eastern. In March 2020, international flights were halted during Covid. The Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020 sent ties between the two countries in deep chill. Now US President Trump's threat of steep tariffs on India and China have brought a thaw in those ties. Direct flight connectivity will be restored soon along with tourist visas. Since 2020 travelling between India and China means doing so through a third country, mostly in Southeast Asia.
NDTV
17 hours ago
- NDTV
Cabinet Approves Airport At Kota-Bundi In Rajasthan For Rs 1,507 Crore
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal to set up a new airport at Kota-Bundi in Rajasthan at an estimated cost of Rs 1,507 crore. The airport, to be completed in two years, will have an annual passenger handling capacity of 2 million and 1,089 acres (around 440.06 hectares) of land is being provided free of cost by the Rajasthan government for the project. Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the greenfield airport project at Kota-Bundi will be funded by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) through its internal accruals. Kota-Bundi constituency is represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal for developing a green field airport at Kota-Bundi at an estimated cost of Rs 1,507 crore, according to an official release. The state government has transferred 440.06 hectares of land to AAI for the airport, which will be suitable for the operation of narrow-body Airbus A321-type aircraft. "The project includes construction of a terminal building spanning an area of 20,000 sqm capable of handling 1,000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP) with annual capacity of 2 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA), Runway 11/29 of dimensions 3200m x 45m, Apron with 07 parking bays for A321 type aircraft, two Link Taxiways, ATC cum Technical Block, Fire Station, car park and allied works," the release said. Vaishnaw said the airport will significantly improve regional connectivity and promote the local economy. AAI will fund the project through its internal accruals and is expected to be completed in 24 months. The new airport will be coming up around 23 kilometres away from the existing airport, Vaishnaw said. According to the release, the existing Kota airport is owned by AAI but cannot be developed for commercial operations due to inadequate land availability and urbanisation around the airport. The existing airport has a "runway (08/26) of dimensions 1220 m x 38 m, suitable for Code 'B' aircraft (such as DO-228), and an apron capable of accommodating two such aircraft. The terminal building spans an area of 400 sqm and is capable of handling 50 passengers during peak hours," it added. Kota, situated on the banks of the Chambal River, is recognised as Rajasthan's industrial capital and is also known as the educational coaching hub of the country. "Kota's prominence in educational and industrial sectors makes the Greenfield Airport a critical infrastructure project, aimed at addressing the anticipated traffic growth in the region," the release said. In the last 11 years, Vaishnaw said the number of operational airports in the country has more than doubled to 162 in 2025 from 74 in 2014. Also, the number of air passengers has increased to 41.2 crore this year from 16.8 crore in 2014, he added.
