IndiGo A321 suffers tailstrike at Mumbai airport during go-around in inclement weather

“On August 16, an IndiGo Airbus A321 plane tail contacted the runway while performing a low-approach go-around because of poor weather conditions at Mumbai. Subsequently, the plane performed another approach and safely landed. As per routine procedure, the plane will undergo required checks / repairs and regulatory approval before returning to service,” an IndiGo spokesperson said.

Tailstrikes refer to instances where the tail of an airplane touches the runway during takeoff or landing. These incidents are deemed serious and are compulsorily reported to the DCGA for investigation and action.

This is not the first such instance involving the airline. Earlier in March, another IndiGo Airbus A321’s tail struck the runway during landing at Chennai airport. In 2023, the DGCA had charged IndiGo a penalty of Rs 30 lakh after four cases of tailstrikes were reported in six months. The regulator, in its audit, had identified gaps in the airline’s engineering procedures and training.

The spokesperson added that safety procedures were being adhered to. “At IndiGo, the safety of our customers, crew, and airplanes is our utmost priority. We are taking all possible attempts to reduce any follow-on effect on our operations with this event,” the spokesperson said.

After Saturday’s incident, the plane was taken out of service for inspection and repairs.

The DGCA will go over technical information, crew members’ actions and weather conditions prior to issuing a final report. Examinations of such occurrences usually involve pilot crew simulator checks, engineering inspections and recommending additional correction steps if necessary.