The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty on IndiGo, a low-cost airline, for four tail strikes in six months. This recent incident, the sixth in two years, has caught the attention of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is now conducting a thorough investigation into every prior tail strike by the airline. The AAIB is investigating various factors, including training or procedural lapses, air crew profiling, and any patterns behind the incidents.
The latest incident involved an IndiGo Airbus A321 Neo aircraft, which scraped the runway at the Chennai airport while landing, causing significant internal damage. The aircraft was previously involved in another tail strike in September 2024, after which it was grounded for five months. The incident occurred on an annual proficiency check flight, with a reasonable experienced pilot and trainer on board.
The AAIB is also investigating a prior tail strike in September 2024, which was also categorized as a serious incident. The investigation is underway, and Airbus has submitted its inputs to the probe agency. The AAIB official assured that all incidents will be examined in-depth, and a report will be released shortly.
The DGCA had earlier imposed a penalty of ₹30 lakh on IndiGo in July 2023, citing “systemic deficiencies” in operations, training procedures, and engineering procedures. Specifically, the DGCA was concerned about IndiGo’s use of a “flap” configuration recommended to pilots to reduce fuel consumption and save costs. This has raised concerns about the airline’s safety standards and protocols.
The recent incidents have sparked a thorough review of IndiGo’s operations and procedures, with the AAIB taking a closer look at the airline’s training, air crew profiling, and any patterns behind the incidents. The investigation is ongoing, and the AAIB’s findings are expected to be released shortly.