IndiGo's Airbus A321 suffers tail strike while attempting low-altitude go-around at Mumbai airport amid heavy rainfall
ANI
Synopsis
An IndiGo Airbus A321 experienced a tail strike upon landing in Mumbai amidst heavy rainfall, prompting an aborted landing and subsequent safe landing on a second attempt. This incident marks the airline's seventh tail strike in two years with its A321 fleet, raising concerns from the DGCA. The airline will conduct necessary checks and repairs before the aircraft resumes operations.
By ET Online
Last Updated:
An IndiGo Airbus A321 (VT-ICM) aircraft on Saturday suffered a tail strike while executing a low-altitude go-around at the Mumbai airport amid heavy rainfall. The aircraft attempted another approach and landed safely at about 3 am. The flight, 6E 1060, was arriving from Bangkok.
IndiGo Spokesperson says, "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, the DGCA had fined IndiGo with Rs 30 lakh for four tail strikes in a span of six months. The regulator had found “systemic deficiencies pertaining to operations, training procedures and engineering procedures”.
According to aviation website Skybrary, "A tail strike occurs when the aft fuselage (tail) of an aeroplane comes in contact with the runway during either takeoff 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."
Both the pilots of the plane have been derostered pending investigation, they said.
"We will be undertaking an investigation on this incident," a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official told PTI.
Heavy downpour lashed Mumbai and its suburbs, with some parts recording more than 200 mm rainfall in the wee hours of Saturday, inundating low-lying areas and affecting the transport services including movement of local trains and flights.
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This is the airline's seventh tail strike in the last two years with its A321 fleet, an issue the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has raised with the airline, TOI reported. IndiGo Spokesperson says, "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, the DGCA had fined IndiGo with Rs 30 lakh for four tail strikes in a span of six months. The regulator had found “systemic deficiencies pertaining to operations, training procedures and engineering procedures”.
According to aviation website Skybrary, "A tail strike occurs when the aft fuselage (tail) of an aeroplane comes in contact with the runway during either takeoff 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."
Both the pilots of the plane have been derostered pending investigation, they said.
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The airline departed from Bangkok at 12.12 am ( local time) against its scheduled departure time of 11.40 pm (local time) and finally landed at the Mumbai airport at 3.04 am against its scheduled arrival time of 2.50 am, as per flight tracking website flightradar24.com."We will be undertaking an investigation on this incident," a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official told PTI.
Heavy downpour lashed Mumbai and its suburbs, with some parts recording more than 200 mm rainfall in the wee hours of Saturday, inundating low-lying areas and affecting the transport services including movement of local trains and flights.
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