A serious incident unfolded at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru involving an Indigo Airlines aircraft that fell victim to a tail strike. The affected plane was an Airbus A321neo operating as Indigo flight 6E 6542 from Guwahati to Bengaluru, bearing the registration number VT-NHP. During the landing phase, adverse weather conditions and strong winds forced the flight to execute a go-around, and it was during this maneuver that the rear section of the aircraft scraped against the runway surface, an occurrence known in aviation circles as a tail strike.
According to available details, Indigo flight 6E 6542 departed from Guwahati and approached Bengaluru for landing when conditions at the airport deteriorated significantly. Wind speeds across the airside became extremely high. Due to the abnormal situation during the final approach, the pilot made the critical decision to perform a go-around. While lifting the aircraft back up for the go-around, the tail end scraped the runway. Indigo officially categorized this incident as an abnormal runway contact.
At the time of the incident, powerful gusts were sweeping through Bengaluru. However, the exact comprehensive cause of the mishap and the precise extent of the damage inflicted on the rear portion of the aircraft will only become clear once the detailed technical investigation is finalized.
Fortunately, all passengers and crew members on board the aircraft remained completely safe. Everyone was safely disembarked from the plane following the incident, and no injuries were reported. Indigo stated that information regarding the incident was duly communicated to all relevant authorities in strict accordance with standard operating procedures. Furthermore, the aircraft VT-NHP was grounded immediately following the event. Maintenance and rigorous technical evaluations are currently underway to inspect the rear section and any other parts that might have been impacted by the runway contact.
Flight clearance dependent on thorough investigation
The aircraft will be permitted to resume commercial operations only after all safety inspections are successfully concluded and necessary clearances are obtained. At present, the exact magnitude of the damage caused by the tail strike remains unconfirmed. A comprehensive assessment of the root causes and the technical fitness of the plane will be conducted once the investigation concludes. Indigo reiterated that the safety of its passengers and crew members remains its utmost priority, and the aircraft will only be brought back into service after undergoing all mandatory technical evaluations and receiving official approvals.
