An IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft suffered a tail strike during landing at Chennai airport on March 8, the airline confirmed in a statement. The aircraft’s tail touched the runway, prompting its immediate grounding for repairs and inspection. IndiGo reassured passengers that safety remains its top priority and expressed regret over flight cancellations caused by the incident.
DGCA’s past actions on tail strikes
A tail strike occurs when an aircraft’s tail hits the ground or a stationary object during take-off or landing. IndiGo has faced scrutiny over such incidents before. In July 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a Rs 30 lakh fine on the airline following four tail strike incidents in six months.
June 2023: An IndiGo flight to Delhi from Kolkata suffered a tail strike upon landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The aircraft was grounded, though no injuries were reported.
June 2023: Another tail strike incident occurred in Ahmedabad, leading DGCA to suspend the licenses of both the pilot and co-pilot.
During audits, DGCA observed deficiencies in IndiGo’s training, operations, and engineering procedures, flagging systemic issues. With the latest Chennai incident, the regulator may conduct another review of the airline’s safety protocols.