Key Points

An IndiGo Airbus A321’s tail scraped the runway during a go-around in bad weather at Mumbai Airport. The aircraft safely landed on its second attempt and will undergo mandatory inspections. This comes as DGCA investigates IndiGo for using unqualified simulators to train pilots for critical airports. The airline maintains that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority.

Key Points: IndiGo A321 Tail Hits Mumbai Runway During Go-Around in Bad Weather

  • IndiGo A321 tail strike occurred during low-altitude go-around in Mumbai
  • Aircraft underwent checks before resuming operations
  • DGCA flagged IndiGo for unqualified simulator training
  • Airline faces scrutiny over critical airport training lapses
2 min read

IndiGo aircraft's tail touches runway at Mumbai Airport

An IndiGo Airbus A321's tail touched Mumbai runway during a go-around amid poor weather. The aircraft landed safely after a second attempt.

IndiGo aircraft's tail touches runway at Mumbai Airport
"At IndiGo, the safety of our customers, crew, and aircraft is our top priority. – IndiGo Spokesperson"

Mumbai, Aug 16

An IndiGo Airbus A321 aircraft's tail touched the runway amid bad weather, as it powered up for a low-altitude go-around manoeuvre in Mumbai on Saturday, according to the airline.

Instead of attempting to land in less-than-ideal conditions, airline pilots frequently opt for a go-around.

"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," an IndiGo Spokesperson said in a statement.

The Airline said that it will follow all the guidelines before the aircraft resumes operation.

Following the standard protocol, the aircraft will go through necessary checks/ repairs and regulatory clearance before resuming operations, the Spokesperson said.

"At IndiGo, the safety of our customers, crew, and aircraft is our top priority. We are making all efforts to minimise any subsequent impact on our operations due to this incident.” IndiGo Spokesperson stated.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sent IndiGo a show-cause notice earlier last week for training 1,700 pilots to operate at three crucial airports with challenging runway conditions that necessitate specialised aircraft handling to ensure safe landings and takeoffs using "non-qualified simulators."

According to the show cause notice, IndiGo used unqualified simulators to train flight commanders and first officers in Category C (Critical) airfields.

An examination of IndiGo's simulator training data revealed that several Full Flight Simulators used for testing, training, or inspecting airfields like Kozhikode, Leh, and Kathmandu were not qualified or approved for the particular airport models as required by the Civil Aviation Rules (CAR), as per DGCA

IndiGo has violated the CAR provisions by neglecting to guarantee that training pertaining to Class III (critical) airports is conducted using suitably qualified simulators, the notice stated.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Thank God the pilots made the right decision to go-around instead of forcing a landing in bad weather. Mumbai monsoon landings are always tricky. Better safe than sorry! 👏
A
Aman W
As an aviation enthusiast, I must say tail strikes during go-arounds are rare but can be dangerous if not handled properly. Kudos to the pilots for maintaining control and landing safely. However, IndiGo's recent violations are worrying.
S
Sarah B
I flew IndiGo last week and felt completely safe. These incidents happen in aviation worldwide. The important thing is they followed procedures and landed safely. Mumbai airport is challenging during monsoons - I've seen many aborted landings there.
V
Vikram M
DGCA needs to impose heavy fines for training violations. Cutting corners in aviation safety is unacceptable! But for this particular incident, the pilots did their job well under difficult circumstances. Mumbai ATC also deserves credit.
N
Nisha Z
My husband is an IndiGo pilot and works so hard to ensure passenger safety. People don't realize the pressure they're under during monsoon landings. Please don't judge based on one incident - Indian pilots are among the best trained in the world!
K
Karthik V
This is why I always prefer to fly during daytime

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