An IndiGo Airbus A321neo was grounded after its fuselage scraped the runway during landing in Gorakhpur, marking a recurring safety concern for the airline's A321 fleet.

  • IndiGo's Airbus A321neo fuselage scraped the runway during landing in Gorakhpur.
  • This marks at least the 8th tail-strike incident involving the airline's A321 fleet.
  • The aircraft has been grounded pending further investigation.
  • DGCA previously penalized IndiGo ₹30 lakh for systemic operational deficiencies.

In a recurring safety concern, an IndiGo Airbus A321neo aircraft's fuselage scraped the runway during landing at Gorakhpur earlier this week. Industry sources confirm that the aircraft has been grounded following the incident, which occurred on August 19. The flight involved was a scheduled service from Delhi to Gorakhpur.

This latest mishap is part of a troubling pattern. According to industry reports, this is at least the 10th tail-strike incident involving an IndiGo aircraft since 2023, with at least eight of these specific incidents involving the Airbus A321 model. While other aircraft types like the ATR and A320 have been involved, the A321 remains the most frequent subject of these incidents.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the structural design of the A321 plays a significant role in these occurrences. Due to its longer fuselage, the A321 is inherently more susceptible to tail strikes during the landing flare maneuver. This technical reality forced Airbus to revise its Flight Crew Training Manual, prescribing a landing flare at 40 feet for the A321, compared to the standard 30 feet for the A318, A319, and A320 models.

The elongated fuselage of the A321 necessitates specialized landing techniques to prevent structural damage from tail strikes.

The regulatory scrutiny on IndiGo has intensified following previous incidents. In January 2024, the DGCA imposed a ₹30 lakh penalty on the airline after an audit uncovered "systemic deficiencies" in its operations, training, and engineering procedures. Despite an investigation launched by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in late 2024, comprehensive findings regarding these recurring incidents have yet to be made public.

As one of Airbus's largest global customers, the frequency of these incidents at IndiGo raises questions about whether the corrective training measures and engineering protocols are being effectively implemented across their wide fleet.

Did You Know?: A 'tail strike' occurs when the rear underside of an aircraft touches the runway, potentially causing massive structural damage to the airframe.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the Airbus A321 more prone to tail strikes?
The A321 has a longer fuselage than other aircraft in the A320 family, making the tail more likely to hit the ground during landing maneuvers.

2. Has the DGCA taken action against IndiGo?
Yes, the DGCA previously fined IndiGo ₹30 lakh due to deficiencies found in training and operational procedures.