Monday, March 10, 2025
An IndiGo Airbus A321 was grounded on March 8 after suffering a tail strike during its landing at Chennai Airport. The aircraft’s tail made contact with the runway, leading to immediate repairs and a thorough inspection. IndiGo issued an apology for the flight cancellations caused by the incident, reassuring passengers that safety remains their top priority.
Tail strikes occur when the aircraft’s tail touches the ground or another object during takeoff or landing. This is not the first time IndiGo has faced such an incident. In July 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a hefty fine on the airline following a series of tail strike incidents within a six-month period. One of these incidents took place in June 2023 when an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Delhi suffered a tail strike during its landing at a major airport, with no injuries reported. Another tail strike occurred in Ahmedabad, leading to the suspension of both the pilot and co-pilot’s licenses.
Following these occurrences, the DGCA launched audits to examine IndiGo’s operations, pointing out several areas of concern related to the airline’s training, operational procedures, and engineering standards. The latest tail strike at Chennai Airport is likely to prompt the regulator to conduct further reviews of the airline’s safety practices. This may include additional inspections into IndiGo’s maintenance protocols and pilot training to ensure that these types of incidents are avoided in the future.
