Major Accident Averted at Mumbai Airport: Indigo Aircraft’s Rear Section Strikes Runway
New Delhi: A major accident was narrowly avoided at Mumbai Airport on Saturday when an IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft (Flight 6E 1060) arriving from Bangkok struck the runway during landing.
The incident took place at 3:06 AM on Runway 27 amid heavy rainfall and poor weather conditions. The aircraft’s rear section hit the runway in what aviation experts refer to as a “tail strike.” Fortunately, all passengers and crew on board were safe. After the initial attempt, the pilots made another landing approach, which was successfully executed.
DGCA to Investigate
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered an inquiry into the incident. A senior official confirmed, “We will conduct a formal investigation, and an official order will be issued soon.” Following the event, the aircraft was grounded and will only be cleared for operations after thorough inspection and necessary repairs. Authorities indicated that the accident was primarily weather-related. However, what raised concern was that neither the airline nor the crew immediately reported the incident to Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Heavy Rains Disrupt Mumbai Flights
Ongoing heavy rainfall in Mumbai has already been causing disruptions to air traffic. In the last 24 hours, at least 14 aircraft were forced to perform a “go-around,” meaning they had to circle back and attempt landing again instead of touching down on the first attempt.
Indigo Issues Statement
IndiGo later issued an official statement, assuring that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority. The airline also confirmed that the aircraft will only be brought back into service after completing all necessary checks and repairs.
