IndiGo's A321 Incident in Mumbai

An IndiGo Airbus A321 (VT-ICM) encountered a tail strike during a go-around maneuver in heavy rain at Mumbai's airport early Saturday morning. The aircraft, arriving from Bangkok as flight 6E 1060, aborted its initial landing attempt due to adverse weather conditions, leading to the tail strike. It successfully landed on the second attempt around 3 am.

IndiGo's Response

An IndiGo spokesperson stated, "The safety of our customers, crew, and aircraft is our top priority. The aircraft will undergo necessary checks and repairs before resuming operations." This marks the seventh tail strike incident for IndiGo's A321 fleet in approximately two years.

Regulatory Concerns

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had previously penalized IndiGo ₹30 lakh for four tail strikes within six months in 2023, citing "systemic deficiencies in operations, training, and engineering procedures."

Understanding Tail Strikes

According to Skybrary, a tail strike occurs when an aircraft's tail contacts the runway during takeoff or landing, often due to human error or environmental factors like gusty winds.